THE   ALHAMBRA 

BY 

WASHINGTON  IRVING 


EDITED  BY 

ALFEED  M.   HITCHCOCK,  M.A. 

INSTRUCTOR  IN  ENGLISH   IN  THE   HARTFORD  PUBLIC   HIGH  SCHOOL 


If  otft 
THE   MACMILLAN   COMPANY 

LONDON:  MACMILLAN  &  CO.,  LTD. 
1900 

All  rights  reserved 


COPYRIGHT,  1899, 
BY  THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY. 


J.  S.  Gushing  &  Co.  —  Berwick  &  Smith 
Norwood  Mass.  U.S.A. 


t\J  ox 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

THE  JOURNEY 1 

PALACE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA    .         .        .         .         .         .         .31 

IMPORTANT  NEGOTIATIONS  —  THE  AUTHOR  SUCCEEDS  TO  THE 

THRONE  or  BOABDIL        .......  44 

INHABITANTS  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA 50 

THE  HALL  OF  AMBASSADORS 55 

THE  JESUITS'  LIBRARY   ........  60 

ALHAMAR,  THE  FOUNDER  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA         ...  60 

YUSEF  ABUL  HAGIG,  THE  FINISHER  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA       .  67 

THE  MYSTERIOUS  CHAMBERS  .......  71 

PANORAMA  FROM  THE  TOWER  OF  COMARES   ....  79 

THE  TRUANT 86 

THE  BALCONY 89 

THE  ADVENTURE  OF  THE  MASON  ......  95 

THE  COURT  OF  LIONS 98 

THE  ABENCERRAGES .  105 

MEMENTOS  OF  BOABDIL 116 

PUBLIC  FETES  OF  GRANADA 121 

LOCAL  TRADITIONS  . 128 

THE  HOUSE  OF  THE  WEATHERCOCK       .         .         .        .        .  130 


VI  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

LEGEND  OF  THE  ARABIAN  ASTROLOGER          ....  133 

VISITORS  TO  THE  ALHAMBRA  .......  152 

RELICS  AND  GENEALOGIES      .......  156 

THE  GENERALIFE 159 

LEGEND  OF  PRINCE  AHMED  AL  KAMEL  ;  OR,  THE  PILGRIM 

OF  LOVE   ...         ......     *   .  161 

A  RAMBLE  AMONG  THE  HILLS         ......  192 

LEGEND  OF  THE  MOOR'S  LEGACY  ......  200 

THE  TOWER  OF  LAS  INFANTAS 221 

LEGEND  OF  THE  THREE  BEAUTIFUL  PRINCESSES    .        .         .  222 

LEGEND  OF  THE  ROSE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA    ....  246 

THE  VETERAN 261 

THE  GOVERNOR  AND  THE  NOTARY          .        ...        .  263 

GOVERNOR  MANCO  AND  THE  SOLDIER 270 

A  FETE  IN  THE  ALHAMBRA    .......  287 

LEGEND  OF  THE  Two  DISCREET  STATUES      ....  292 

THE  CRUSADE  OF  THE  GRAND  MASTER  OF  ALCANTARA         .  309 

SPANISH  ROMANCE 317 

LEGEND  OF  DON  MUNIO  SANCHO  DE  HINOJOSA     .        .         .  319 

POETS  AND  POETRY  OF  MOSLEM  ANDALUS     ....  326 

AN  EXPEDITION  IN  QUEST  OF  A  DIPLOMA      ....  332 

THE  LEGEND  OF  THE  ENCHANTED  SOLDIER   ....  335 

THE  AUTHOR'S  FAREWELL  TO  GRANADA        ....  350 


LIFE  OF  IRVING 


WASHINGTON  IRVING  was  born  in  New  York,  April  3,  1783, 
and  died  at  Sunnyside,  his  country  home  near  Tarrytown,  N.  Y., 
Nov.  28,  1859.  These  dates  are  easily  remembered  if  we  bear 
in  mind  that  his  life  lies,  roughly  speaking,  between  the  close 
of  the  Revolution  and  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War. 

Although  of  no  great  significance,  it  is  interesting  to  know 
that  the  Irvings  traced  their  ancestry  back  to  one  who  was 
Robert  Bruce's  armor-bearer.  Irving's  father  was  born  in  one 
of  the  Orkney  Islands.  When  a  young  man  he  went  to  sea  and 
after  a  little  became  a  minor  officer  on  a  British  packet  sailing 
between  Falmouth  and  New  York.  At  Falmouth  he  met  and 
married  Sarah  Sanders,  and  soon  after,  still  a  young  man,  he 
left  the  sea  and  became  a  merchant  in  New  York.  He  was  a 
good  man,  strictly  honest,  a  stern  Presbyterian.  Mrs.  Irving 
was  a  warm-hearted  woman  of  fine  nature  and  good  intellect. 
One  gains  the  impression  that  the  children  respected  their 
father  and  loved  their  mother. 

Washington  was  the  youngest  of  eleven  children,  seven  of 
whom  lived  to  be  men  and  women.  The  story  of  his  boyhood 
is  not  remarkable.  He  was  lively,  full  of  mischief.  At  school 
he  did  reasonably  well  without  showing  unusual  brilliancy. 
His  school  days  were  over  at  sixteen.  He  was  a  reading 
boy  :  Pilgrim's  Progress,  Robinson  Crusoe,  and  The  Arabian 
Nights  were  early  favorites  with  him.  Equally  delightful  was 
a  set  of  twenty  small  volumes  of  voyages  and  travels  entitled 
The  World  Displayed.  Another  work  that  kindled  his  imagi- 

vii 


viii  LIFE    OF   IRVING 

nation  and  gave  him  a  desire  to  travel  was  a  History  of  the 
Civil  Wars  of  Granada.  He  was  fond,  too,  of  the  theatre, 
and  saw  many  plays,  we  are  told,  when  his  strict  father  thought 
him  in  bed.  More  important  still,  he  liked  to  scribble. 
Tradition  tells  of  a  poem,  written  when  he  was  but  ten,  to 
ridicule  a  playmate;  and  of  a  play  composed  at  thirteen. 
About  this  time,  too,  he  published  a  few  "  moral  essays  "  in 
The  Weekly  Museum.  Fortunately  these  productions  are 
lost.  They  are  of  value  only  because  they  show  an  early 
tendency  toward  authorship. 

From  the  close  of  his  school  days  till  he  was  twenty-one 
there  is  little  to  chronicle.  He  studied  law  in  a  half-hearted 
way,  but  law  was  as  distasteful  to  him  as  Latin.  The  monotony 
was  broken  by  two  trips,  forerunners  of  the  many  long  journeys 
which  made  Irving  conspicuous  as  a  traveller.  The  first  of  these 
was  up  the  Hudson  to  Albany,  thence  overland  to  Johnstown 
where  a  married  sister  lived  ;  the  other  was  to  Montreal.  We 
can  hardly  realize  how  much  these  expeditions  meant  to  young 
Irving.  The  Hudson  must  be  slowly  sailed  up  in  a  sloop; 
from  Albany  to  Montreal  much  of  the  way  lay  through  wild 
forests,  over  roads  frequently  almost  impassable.  There  were 
discomforts  to  be  endured,  and  real  dangers.  Adventures  came 
unsought.  During  this  time,  moreover,  Irving  published  in  The 
Morning  Chronicle,  a  journal  edited  by  his  brother  Peter,  a 
few  letters  signed  Jonathan  Oldstyle.  They  were  modelled 
after  The  Spectator  Papers,  typical  eighteenth-century  essays, 
humorously  satirizing  New  York  manners  from  the  standpoint 
of  an  old  man.  They  are  of  moderate  merit,  clever  enough  for 
a  young  man  of  nineteen,  and  furnish  a  valuable,  though  limited, 
picture  of  society  as  it  was  in  1 800. 

Summarizing  these  twenty-one  years,  we  should  remember 
that  Irving  was  well  born  ;  that  his  schooling  amounted  to 
little,  much  of  his  education  being  obtained  through  associating 
freely  with  intelligent  people,  through  journeys  long  for  those 


LIFE    OF   IRVING  IX 

days,  and  through  reading  books  —  particularly  such  as  quicken 
the  imagination  and  give  one  a  desire  to  travel.  He  had  a 
good  disposition  that  won  friends ;  he  was  unhampered  by 
poverty.  He  had  already  learned  the  delights  of  composition. 

Irving  was  in  poor  health.  Hoping  that  travel  might  do 
him  good,  his  brothers  sent  him  to  Europe  for  two  years,  dur 
ing  which  he  visited  France,  Sicily,  Italy,  Holland,  and  Eng 
land.  It  was  purely  a  pleasure  trip,  not  without  adventures 
with  pirates  by  sea  and  robbers  by  land.  He  met  delightful 
people  everywhere,  and  occasionally  the  "young  American 
traveller  "  was  lionized.  His  longest  stay  was  at  Paris,  where 
he  attended  the  theatre  more  regularly  than  he  did  the  lecture- 
room.  No  doubt  some  of  the  time  during  these  two  years 
might  have  been  spent  more  profitably  ;  for  the  most  part,  how 
ever,  the  trip  was  successful,  and  Irving  returned  home  in 
excellent  health. 

This  brings  us  to  a  period  of  nine  years  (1806—1815)  following 
his  return  from  Europe.  He  was  soon  admitted  to  the  bar, 
and  shared  his  brother  John's  office  in  Wall  Street.  Hardly  can 
it  be  said  that  he  practised  law.  A  few  years  later  he  went 
into  partnership  with  his  brothers,  Ebenezer  and  Peter,  pro 
prietors  of  a  large  importing  house  having  a  branch  in  Liver 
pool.  But  it  was  plainly  understood  that  the  youngest  brother 
should  share  the  profits  'without  doing  any  great  amount  of 
work.  This  arrangement,  by  means  of  which  the  Irvings  had 
practically  a  common  purse,  continued  through  life.  We  may 
think  of  Irving,  therefore,  not  as  closely  employed  in  business 
affairs,  but  as  an  agreeable  man  about  town;  one  of  the  "sad 
dogs  "  whom  he  had  satirized  in  the  Oldstyle  letters ;  a  young 
man  of  literary  promise  who  had  been  abroad  —  a  rarer  thing 
then  than  now,  when  one  may  cross  the  Atlantic  between  two 
Saturdays.  Occasionally  he  made  a  business  trip  to  Washing 
ton  or  Montreal,  occasionally  a  pleasure  trip  to  Baltimore  or 
Philadelphia ;  but  for  the  most  part  he  remained  in  New  York. 


X  LIFE    OP   IRVING 

Out  of  this  manner  of  living  grew  his  second  literary  ven 
ture.  In  company  with  his  brother  William  and  his  good 
friend  Paulding,  he  published  Salmagundi,  "  a  small  pamphlet 
in  neat  yellow  covers,"  which  appeared  at  irregular  intervals 
for  about  a  year  —  twenty  numbers  in  all.  "Our  intention," 
proclaimed  the  editors  under  appropriate  pen  names,  "  is 
simply  to  instruct  the  young,  reform  the  old,  correct  the  town, 
and  castigate  the  age."  It  caused  a  breeze  in  the  little  city, 
its  pleasantly  sharp  satire  meeting  much  the  same  reception  as 
was  accorded  The  Spectator  of  one  hundred  years  before. 

Two  years  later  (1809)  Irving  published  A  History  of  Neio 
York  by  Died/rich  Knickerbocker,  which  established  his  reputa 
tion.  It  is  a  comic  history  of  the  city  under  early  Dutch  rule. 
The  work  was  heralded  by  a  number  of  sham  advertisements, 
the  purport  of  which  was  that  an  eccentric  old  man,  Diedrich 
Knickerbocker,  had  recently  disappeared  from  his  lodgings. 
He  had  left  behind  him  nothing  but  a  "  curious  manuscript " 
which  his  landlord  proposed  to  publish  to  pay  for  the  old 
gentleman's  board.  It  was  a  great  success.  Some  were  slow 
to  appreciate  its  humor,  and  a  few  thought  their  sacred  ances 
tors  had  been  handled  too  freely;  but  at  last  the  joke  was 
appreciated  by  all.  How  very  popular  this  history  has  been  is 
attested  by  the  liberal  way  in  which  the  word  Knickerbocker 
has  been  used  in  the  commercial  world.  It  is  like  the  word 
Pickwick  in  England  and  Waverley  in  Scotland. 

Except  a  few  minor  essays,  written  for  the  Analectic  Maga 
zine,  of  which  Irving  was  for  a  time  editor,  the  two  publications 
mentioned  are  all  that  belong  to  this  period.  Before  passing 
on,  however,  mention  should  be  made  of  an  event  of  great 
significance  —  the  death  of  Matilda  Hoffman,  a  girl  of  beautiful 
character,  to  whom  Irving  was  engaged.  This  extreme  sorrow 
colored  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  did  not  marry,  and  after 
his  death  evidence  was  found  that  he  had  cherished  this  sorrow 
through  many  years.  It  is  well  to  remember  Miss  Hoffman 


LIFE    OF   IRVING  xi 

in  connection  with  the  ancestor  who  served  Robert  Bruce,  the 
one  typifying  the  tender  sentiment,  the  other  the  romantic 
element,  in  Irving's  character. 

And  now  we  come  to  a  period  of  seventeen  years  (1815-1832) 
spent  abroad  in  England,  France,  and  Spain,  with  side  trips  to 
Scotland,  Wales,  and  Germany.  It  is  odd  that  he  should  have 
remained  abroad  so  long,  even  though  we  remember  that  one  of 
his  sisters  then  lived  in  Birmingham,  and  his  brother  Peter 
lived  in  Liverpool ;  remember,  too,  how  fond  he  was  of  travel. 
The  long  stay  was  unpremeditated;  one  thing  after  another 
prevented  his  return.  To  begin  with,  his  brother  was  in  poor 
health,  unable  to  attend  to  business ;  affairs  were  in  a  bad  way 
owing  to  a  depression  in  trade.  For  three  years,  except  for 
occasional  vacation  trips,  one  of  which  took  him  to  Abbotsford 
and  resulted  in  a  lifelong  friendship  with  Sir  Walter,  the  young 
author  kept  closely  to  business,  a  novel  and  far  from  pleasant 
experience.  Matters  grew  worse,  and  finally  the  firm  became 
bankrupt.  It  was  a  hard  blow  to  bear,  yet  it  resulted  eventu 
ally  in  good ;  for  Irving,  although  not  absolutely  penniless,  felt 
that  he  must  write  steadily  to  gain  a  living.  He  went  to  Lon 
don,  like  so  many  other  authors  before  his  day,  and  trusted 
entirely  to  his  pen. 

In  1819-1820  appeared  The  Sketch-Book,  first  issued  in  Amer 
ica  in  seven  thin  volumes  published  at  irregular  intervals,  after 
wards  published  in  England  in  two  volumes.  We  are  all 
familiar  with  its  contents  —  fanciful  and  sentimental  essays, 
with  here  and  there  a  humorous  tale  gracefully  told.  The  sales 
were  tremendous,  for  those  days,  in  England  as  well  as  America. 
Two  years  later  Bracebridge  Hall  appeared,  written  principally 
in  Paris,  where  Irving  was  then  living  with  his  invalid  brother. 
It  is  really  a  second  sketch-book,  telling  of  the  holiday  happen 
ings  at  an  English  country  seat.  Two  or  three  tales  mingle 
with  the  narrative.  Two  years  later  still,  after  a  year  or  so  of 
travel  in  central  Europe,  a  third  sketch-book  appeared,  Tales  of 

1 


xii  LIFE    OF   IRVING 

a  Traveller,  a  collection  of  stories  picked  up  here  and  there  dur 
ing  his  travels,  or  half  remembered  from  early  reading.  The 
author  imagines  himself  interrupted  in  a  voyage  down  the  Ehine 
by  illness,  which  confines  him  to  an  inn.  He  writes  to  while 
away  time.  These  three  works,  so  like  in  character,  do  not 
differ  greatly  in  merit.  The  Sketch-Book,  partly  because  first 
to  appear,  partly  because  it  contains  "  Rip  Van  Winkle  "  and 
"  The  Legend  of  Sleepy  Hollow,"  remains  the  favorite.  It  is 
the  most  American  of  the  three. 

In  1826,  Irving,  having  now  lived  abroad  about  ten  years, 
turned  his  attention  to  a  new  field.  For  years  Spain  had  been 
to  him  an  enchanted  land.  A  desire  to  visit  the  country,  kindled 
years  before  through  reading  Gines  Perez  de  Hytas's  History 
of  the  Civil  Wars  of  Granada,  had  been  increased  by  a  study 
of  Spanish  literature.  We  next  hear  of  him  in  Madrid,  attached 
for  convenience  to  the  American  legation,  hard  at  work.  In 
two  years  appeared  The  Life  and  Voyages  of  Christopher 
Columbus,  based  principally  upon  a  Spanish  work  just  then 
being  published.  It  was  followed  three  years  later  by  The 
Voyages  of  the  Companions  of  Columbus. 

But  Spain  abounds  in  legends,  its  history  is  most  romantic ; 
and  it  was  inevitable  that  as  Irving  pored  over  parchment 
tomes  his  interest  should  wander  from  that  which  pertained  to 
Columbus  alone.  Particularly  was  he  pleased  with  the  part 
the  Moors  had  played  in  Spanish  history.  A  year  after  Voyages 
of  Columbus  appeared,  he  published  The  Conquest  of  Granada, 
and  two  years  later  still  The  Alhambra.  The  first  of  these 
tells,  in  graceful  English,  how  the  Moors,  after  seven  hundred 
years'  dominion,  were  driven  out  of  Spain.  The  Alhambra,  per 
haps  the  best  of  all  his  sketch-books,  grew  out  of  a  three  months' 
residence  in  the  almost  deserted  palace  and  fortification  of  Al 
hambra  in  Granada.  It  consists  of  chapters  of  Moorish  history, 
accounts  of  daily  happenings,  and  a  number  of  Moorish  legends. 

It  was  while  dreaming  away  his  time  most  happily  in  this 


LIFE   OF   IRVING  xiii 

ancient  palace  and  resting  after  the  severe  labor  connected  with 
his  Spanish  works,  that  news  reached  Irving  of  his  appointment 
as  Secretary  of  the  American  Legation  to  London,  a  diplomatic 
position  which  he  filled  with  credit  for  two  years.  At  the  end 
of  this  period  he  resigned  his  post  to  return  to  America. 

Much  might  be  said  of  what  Irving  did  during  these  seven 
teen  years  abroad  besides  the  writing  of  books.  Although  he 
suffered  frequently  from  ill  health,  the  time  passed  pleasantly 
on  the  whole.  He  read  many  books,  saw  many  plays,  travelled 
where  fancy  led.  He  mingled  much  with  society  of  the  best 
kind,  meeting  most  of  the  noted  men  and  women  of  the  day. 
He  made  warm  friendships  everywhere.  His  reputation  as  a 
writer  and  his  gentlemanly  bearing  were  a  passport  wherever 
he  went.  The  Royal  Academy  of  History  in  Madrid  awarded 
him  a  medal;  Oxford  conferred  the  degree  of  LL.D.  amid 
cries  of  "  Knickerbocker  "  and  "  Rip  Van  Winkle."  Nor  were 
honors  lacking  in  his  own  country.  On  his  arrival  in  New 
York  he  was  greeted  with  a  public  dinner ;  later  he  was  asked 
to  run  as  candidate  for  mayor  of  the  city.  He  declined  to 
accept  a  cabinet  position  in  Washington.  With  fame  had 
come  moderate  wealth,  for  his  books  had  all  brought  large 
sums;  and  although  he  had  lost  much  through  bad  invest 
ments  and  had  given  liberal  sums  to  his  brother  Peter,  he 
was  in  comfortable  circumstances. 

Irving  remained  in  America  ten  years.  Out  of  a  trip  taken 
with  a  government  commission  to  the  Indian  tribes  „  of  the 
Great  Plains,  came  A  Tour  of  the  Prairie.  This  led  to 
Astoria,  an  account  of  Mr.  Astor's  attempt  to  found  a  settle 
ment  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  River.  The  Adventures 
of  Captain  Bonneville  makes  a  third  book  dealing  with  the 
West.  These  little -read  books  are  inferior  to  his  other 
works.  Their  subject-matter  excludes  the  possibility  of  great 
originality;  yet  they  form  a  trio  of  interest  to  all  who  are 
fond  of  adventure  as  it  appeared  in  the  old  trapping  days. 


xiv  LIFE    OF   IRVING 

Abbotsford  and  Newstead  Abbey,  containing  accounts  of  the 
homes  of  Scott  and  Byron,  and  Legends  of  the  Conquest  of 
Spain,  are  two  more  volumes  belonging  to  this  period. 

For  many  years  Irving  had  been  a  rover ;  now,  somewhat 
advanced  in  years,  he  longed  for  a  home.  All  the  world  knows 
of  Sunnyside.  It  was  a  simple  farmstead  at  first,  but  under 
Irving's  care  it  grew  into  a  beautiful  home  to  which  nephews, 
nieces,  and  other  available  relatives  were  welcomed.  Here  his 
invalid  brother  Peter,  now  a  broken  old  man,  came  to  end  his 
days.  It  was  an  expensive  establishment  to  maintain,  yet 
Irving  labored  willingly  to  keep  it  up  at  a  time  of  life  when 
most  men  would  have  rested.  It  was,  indirectly,  to  maintain 
this  snug  little  home  in  which  so  many  of  his  relatives  were 
comfortably  housed  that  he  accepted,  when  fifty-nine  years  old, 
an  appointment  as  Minister  to  Spain.  It  was  a  high  honor,  but 
it  took  him  to  a  country  threatened  repeatedly  with  civil  war, 
making  his  position  a  difficult  one  to  fill.  Ill  health,  moreover, 
added  discomfort,  and  he  was  further  disappointed  in  finding  no 
time  for  literary  work. 

At  the  end  of  four  years  we  find  him  back  at  Sunnyside, 
where  he  remained  till  his  death.  These  last  years  form  a 
happy  ending  to  a  long  and  useful  life.  He  was  in  his  own 
home,  surrounded  by  those  who  loved  him.  Sunnyside  was  a 
literary  shrine  to  which  the  great  writers  of  the  day  came 
gladly,  and  were  always  warmly  welcomed.  And  yet,  there 
is  an  element  of  sadness  about  his  declining  years.  Though 
strength  was  failing  him,  he  felt  that  he  must  labor  on,  partly 
to  support  his  home,  partly  to  leave  behind  him  a  monumental 
work  —  something  better  than  his  pen  had  yet  achieved,  a  gift 
to  his  country.  This  magnum  opus  was  The  Life  of  George 
Washington.  In  addition  he  carefully  revised  all  his  works, 
.and  added  to  them  two  volumes,  Mahomet  and  his  Successors 
and  A  Life  of  Oliver  Goldsmith.  This  was  a  heavy  task  for 
an  old  man.  It  was  his  constant  fear  that  he  should  not  live 

I 


AN  ESTIMATE    OF   IRVING  XV 

to  complete  all  that  he  had  planned  to  do.  Scarcely  had  the 
last  page  of  the  magnum  opus  been  written  when  he  passed 
away. 

His  death  was  a  matter  for  a  nation's  mourning.  Flags  in 
New  York  were  at  half-mast.  Throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  land,  even  beyond  the  Atlantic,  thousands 
mourned  who  felt  the  loss  a  personal  one.  His  body  lies  in 
the  Sleepy  Hollow  Cemetery  near  Sunnyside. 

Several  lives  of  Irving  have  been  written.  By  far  the  best 
is  The  Life  and  Letters  of  Washington  Irving,  by  his  nephew, 
Pierre  M.  Irving,  a  work  in  four  volumes.  Mr.  Charles  Dudley 
Warner's  Washington  Irving  in  the  American  Men  of  Letters 
Series  is  the  best  one-volume  biography.  Of  the  many  briefer 
sketches  it  is  impossible  to  select  the  best.  Periodical  indexes, 
such  as  are  to  be  found  in  all  libraries,  reveal  a  great  many 
critical  and  biographical  essays.  A  sane  estimate  of  Irving's 
place  in  literature  is  to  be  found  in  Professor  C.  F.  Eichardson's 
American  Literature.  The  brief  sketch  above  owes  something 
to  each  of  these  sources. 

AN  ESTIMATE   OF  IRVING 

It  is  pretty  well  agreed  that  the  essential  qualities  of  Irving's 
works  are  sentiment  and  humor.  To  these  might  be  added  an 
indefinable  moral  quality  akin  to  that  which  is  sometimes  felt 
in  the  tone  of  certain  voices.  Finally,  the  charm  of  his  writ 
ings  consists  not  so  much  in  subject-matter  as  in  graceful,  me 
lodious  expression.  He  lacks  the  fire,  the  virility,  of  a  great 
essayist ;  the  free  imagination  of  a  great  romancer ;  the  broad 
knowledge  and  fine  discrimination  of  a  great  historian.  He  is 
always  entertaining,  always  worth  reading. 

Irving's  place  in  American  literature  is  clearly  defined.  He 
is  our  first  successful  man  of  letters.  He  is  the  earliest  of  a 


XVI  IRVING 'S    WORKS 

long  line  of  short-story  writers.  If  we  except  Franklin,  he  is 
our  first  prominent  essayist.  As  an  historian,  he  leads  a  re 
markable  group  containing  such  names  as  Bancroft,  Prescott, 
Motley,  Parkman,  and  Palfrey ;  behind  him  we  find  but  the 
old  annalists  of  Puritan  days,  and  the  later  group  of  minor 
local  historians  of  whom  Belknap  is  a  type.  We  may  almost 
say  that  American  prose,  in  the  legitimate  fields  of  literature, 
begins  with  Washington  Irving. 

Perhaps  it  is  profitless  to  conjecture  what  Irving  would 
have  produced  had  he  been  born  in  Boston  instead  of  New 
York ;  what  effect  poverty,  or  some  grief  less  attractive  than 
the  loss  of  a  first  love,  might  have  produced  in  his  nature. 
Living  in  an  era  when  sentiment  often  flattened  into  senti 
mentality,  and  in  a  country  where  provincial  smartness  was 
sometimes  a  trifle  noisy  and  boastful,  he  escaped  glaring  faults 
almost  entirely.  What  would  Irving  produce  if  he  were  writing 
to-day?  What  would  he  have  produced  had  he  lived  in  the 
days  of  Addison  and  Steele  ] 


IRVINGTS  WORKS 

1802.     Jonathan  Oldstyle  Papers. 

Nine  letters  on  drama  and  fashion  in  New  York,  exceedingly 
interesting  in  their  glimpses  of  society  in  1800.  Published  in 
the  Morning  Chronicle,  edited  by  his  brother  Peter. 

1807.     Salmagundi. 

"  A  small  pamphlet  in  neat  yellow  covers, "  published  at  irreg 
ular  intervals  for  a  year  —  twenty  numbers  in  all.  Written  by 
Irving,  his  brother  William,  and  Jarnes  Kirk  Pauldiug.  Satir 
ized  New  York  in  a  manner  similar  to  that  of  The  Spectator, 
after  which  it  was  patterned. 

1809.     A  History  of  New  York,  by  "  Diedrich  Knickerbocker." 
A  comic  history  of  the  city  under  Dutch  rule.     This  work 
established  Irving' s  reputation  as  a  humorist. 


IR  VING- S    WORKS  X  vii 

1819-1820.     The  Sketch-Book  of  Geoffrey  Crayon,  Gent. 

Essays  narrative  and  descriptive,  touched  with  sentiment 
and  humor,  with  here  and  there  a  graceful  tale. 

1822.    Bracebridge  Hall,  by  "  Geoffrey  Crayon,  Gent." 

Similar  to  The  Sketch-Book.  The  sketches  are  given  unity 
by  being  grouped  about  a  visit  to  an  English  country  seat 
during  the  holidays. 

1824.     Tales  of  a  Traveller,  by  "  Geoffrey  Crayon,  Gent." 

Stories  picked  up  here  and  there  during  his  travels,  or  half 
remembered  from  early  reading. 

1828.  The  Life  and  Voyages  of  Christopher  Columbus. 
Based  upon  Navarrete's  Voyages  of  Columbus. 

1829.  Chronicle  of  the  Conquest  of  Granada. 

An  account  of  a  ten  years'  war  between  the  Spaniards  and 
the  Moors,  resulting  in  the  final  capture  of  Granada,  and  the 
termination  of  Moorish  dominion  in  Spain,  which  had  pre 
vailed  over  seven  hundred  years. 

1831.  Voyages  of  the  Companions  of  Columbus. 
Supplementary  to  the  second  work  above. 

1832.  The  Alhambra. 

A  Spanish  sketch-book,  giving  an  account  of  a  three  months' 
residence  in  the  old  Moorish  palace.  Legends  and  brief  chap 
ters  of  history  mingle  with  the  narrative  and  descriptive 
sketches. 

1835.     A  Tour  of  the  Prairies. 

Published  as  Vol.  I.  of  Crayon  Miscellany.  An  account  of  a 
trip  to  the  middle  West,  in  company  with  a  government  com 
mission. 

1835.    Abbotsford  and  Newstead  Abbey. 

Volume  II.  of  Crayon  Miscellany.  Account  of  visits  to 
homes  of  Scott  and  Byron. 

1835.     Legends  of  the  Conquest  of  Spain. 

Volume  III.  of  Crayon  Miscellany.  Miscellaneous  papers, 
supplementary  to  The  Conquest  of  Granada.  Tells  of  the 
downfall  of  the  Goths  in  Spain,  and  the  coming  of  the  Moors. 


xviii  SUGGESTIONS    FOR    STUDY 

1836.  Astoria. 

An  account  of  John  Jacob  Astor's  attempt  to  found  a 
settlement  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  River.  Compiled 
from  documents  furnished  by  Mr.  Astor. 

1837.  The  Adventures  of  Captain  Bonneville. 

Irving  purchased  from  Captain  Bonneville  a  manuscript 
account  of  his  trapping  expeditions  beyond  the  Rockies,  which 
he  elaborated  into  an  interesting  volume  of  adventure.  Like 
A storia,  it  has  no  claim  on  originality,  Irving' s  part  being  that 
of  editor,  and  little  more. 

1849.     Life  of  Oliver  Goldsmith. 

An  excellent  biography  based  upon  a  brief  sketch  written 
years  before.  Irving  and  Goldsmith  had  much  in  common. 

1849.     Mahomet  and  His  Successors. 

Tells  of  the  rise  and  spread  of  Mohammedanism  up  to  the 
invasion  of  Spain.  Charles  Kendall  Adams  says  of  this  work, 
"  Like  all  of  Irving's  histories,  it  does  much  to  compensate  for 
any  lack  of  profound  research  by  the  charm  of  an  unusually 
attractive  style." 

1855.     Wolf  erf  s  Boost. 

Miscellaneous  articles  of  little  value,  most  of  which  had  been 
published  in  the  Knickerbocker  Magazine. 

1855-1859.     Life  of  George  Washington. 

A  popular,  almost  standard  account,  showing  painstaking 
effort.  It  has  the  charm  of  all  his  writings,  but  is  the  labor  of 
an  essayist,  not  of  a  statesman  or  a  close  student  of  history. 


SUGGESTIONS   FOR  STUDY 

Read  The  Alhambra  aloud.  Use  a  dictionary,  and  a  good 
map  of  Spain. 

Study  Irving's  art  and  character.  Where  is  he  at  his  best  ? 
What  is  the  secret  of  his  art  ?  How  does  he  differ  from  Haw 
thorne  and  Stevenson  ?  How  does  his  character  differ  from 
your  own?  Edward  Everett  has  said,  "If  any  one  wishes  to 
study  a  style  which  possesses  the  characteristic  beauties  of  Addi- 


PREFACE  xix 

son,  its  ease,  simplicity,  and  elegance,  with  greater  accuracy, 
point,  and  spirit,  let  him  give  his  days  and  nights  to  the  vol 
umes  of  Irving."  Is  this  advice  extravagant  ? 

Let  The  Alhambra  be  a  gateway  through  which  you  pass  to 
other  literary  journeyings.  There  are  many  pleasant  paths 
leading  through  others  of  living's  works ;  if  you  like  this  sketch 
book,  try  the  others.  Don  Quixote,  the  masterpiece  of  Span 
ish  prose  fiction,  a  humorous  extravaganza  at  which  all  the 
world  has  laughed,  is  quite  a  different  sort  of  journey.  The 
Arabian  Nights,  a  collection  of  stories  related  closely  to  the 
Moorish  tales  of  the  Alhambra,  suggests  another  pleasant  route. 
How  does  the  Arabian  tale  differ  from  the  Greek  myth  as 
retold  by  Hawthorne,  or  from  the  German  folk  stories  collected 
by  the  Grimm  brothers  1 

If  the  historical  chapters  in  The  Alhambra  have  interested 
you,  read  the  entire  account  of  the  Moorish  migration  as  given 
by  Irving  in  Mahomet  and  His  Successors,  Legends  of  the  Con 
quest  of  Spain,  and  The  Conquest  of  Granada.  The  Story  of 
the  Moors  in  Spain  by  Stanley  Lane-Poole,  and  The  Christian 
Recovery  of  Spain  by  Henry  E.  Watts  are  brief,  popular  works 
on  this  subject.  Other  chapters  of  Spanish  history  are  equally 
interesting.  Prescott's  The  Conquest  of  Mexico  and  The  Con 
quest  of  Peru  tell  in  an  interesting  manner  of  Spam's  conquest 
in  the  New  World. 

The  best  set  of  illustrations  of  the  Alhambra  is  an  expensive 
folio  by  Owen  Jones.  Nearly  all  recent  editions  of  living's 
works  contain  a  few  good  illustrations.  Baedeker's  Spain  gives 
valuable  information  about  the  Granada  of  to-day. 

A.  M.  H. 


XX  PREFACE 


PREFACE   TO   THE   REVISED   EDITION 

ROUGH  draughts  of  some  of  the  following  tales  and  essays 
were  actually  written  during  a  residence  in  the  Alhambra; 
others  were  subsequently  added,  founded  on  notes  and  observa 
tions  made  there.  Care  was  taken  to  maintain  local  coloring 
and  verisimilitude ;  so  that  the  whole  might  present  a  faithful 
and  living  picture  of  that  microcosm,  that  singular  little  world 
into  which  I  had  been  fortuitously  thrown ;  and  about  which 
the  external  world  had  a  very  imperfect  idea.  It  was  my  en 
deavor  scrupulously  to  depict  its  half  Spanish,  half  Oriental 
character;  its  mixture  of  the  heroic,  the  poetic,  and  the  gro 
tesque  ;  to  revive  the  traces  of  grace  and  beauty  fast  fading 
from  its  walls ;  to  record  the  regal  and  chivalrous  traditions 
concerning  those  who  once  trod  its  courts,  and  the  whimsical 
and  superstitious  legends  of  the  motley  race  now  burrowing 
among  its  ruins. 

The  papers  thus  roughly  sketched  out  lay  for  three  or  four 
years  in  my  portfolio,  until  I  found  myself  in  London,  in  1832, 
on  the  eve  of  returning  to  the  United  States.  I  then  endeav 
ored  to  arrange  them  for  the  press,  but  the  preparations  for 
departure  did  not  allow  sufficient  leisure.  Several  were  thrown 
aside  as  incomplete ;  the  rest  were  put  together  somewhat 
hastily  and  in  rather  a  crude  and  chaotic  manner. 

In  the  present  edition  I  have  revised  and  rearranged  the 
whole  work,  enlarged  some  parts,  and  added  others,  including 
the  papers  originally  omitted;  and  have  thus  endeavored  to 
render  it  more  complete  and  more  worthy  of  the  indulgent 
reception  with  which  it  has  been  favored, 

W.I. 

SUNNYSIDE.  1851. 


THE   ALHAMBRA 


THE  JOURNEY 

IN  the  spring  of  1829,  the  author  of  this  work,  whom  curi 
osity  had  brought  into  Spain,  made  a  rambling  expedition 
from  Seville  to  Granada  in  company  with  a  friend,  a  member 
of  the  Russian  Embassy  at  Madrid.  Accident  had  thrown  us 
together  from  distant  regions  of  the  globe  and  a  similarity  of 
taste  led  us  to  wander  together  among  the  romantic  mountains 
of  Andalusia.  Should  these  pages  meet  his  eye,  wherever 
thrown  by  the  duties  of  his  station,  whether  mingling  in  the 
pageantry  of  courts,  or  meditating  on  the  truer  glories  of 
nature,  may  they  recall  the  scenes  of  our  adventurous  com 
panionship,  and  with  them  the  recollection  of  one,  in  whom 
neither  time  nor  distance'  will  obliterate  the  remembrance  of 
his  gentleness  and  worth.1 

And  here,  before  setting  forth,  let  me  indulge  in  a  few  pre 
vious  remarks  on  Spanish  scenery  and  Spanish  travelling. 
Many  are  apt  to  picture  Spain  to  their  imaginations  as  a  soft 
southern  region,  decked  out  with  the  luxuriant  charms  of  volup 
tuous  Italy.  On  the  contrary,  though  there  are  exceptions  in 
some  of  the  maritime  provinces,  yet,  for  the  greater  part,  it  is 
a  stern,  melancholy  country,  with  rugged  mountains,  and  long 
sweeping  plains,  destitute  of  trees,  and  indescribably  silent  and 
lonesome,  partaking  of  the  savage  and  solitary  character  of 

B  1 


2  THE    ALHAMBRA 

Africa.  What  adds  to  this  silence  and  loneliness,  is  the  absence 
of  singing-birds,  a  natural  consequence  of  the  want  of  groves 
and  hedges.  The  vulture  and  the  eagle  are  seen  wheeling  about 
the  mountain-cliffs,  and  soaring  over  the  plains,  and  groups  of 
shy  bustards  stalk  about  the  heaths ;  but  the  myriads  of 
smaller  birds,  which  animate  the  whole  face  of  other  countries, 
are  met  with  in  but  few  provinces  in  Spain,  and  in  those 
chiefly  among  the  orchards  and  gardens  which  surround  the 
habitations  of  man. 

In  the  interior  provinces  the  traveller  occasionally  traverses 
great  tracts  cultivated  with  grain  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach, 
waving  at  times  with  verdure,  at  other  times  naked  and  sun 
burnt,  but  he  looks  round  in  vain  for  the  hand  that  has  tilled 
the  soil.  At  length  he  perceives  some  village  on  a  steep  hill, 
or  rugged  crag,  with  mouldering  battlements  and  ruined  watch- 
tower  :  a  stronghold,  in  old  times,  against  civil  war,  or  Moorish 
inroad ;  for  the  custom  among  the  peasantry  of  congregating 
together  for  mutual  protection  is  still  kept  up  in  most  parts 
of  Spain,  in  consequence  of  the  maraudings  of  roving  freebooters. 

But  though  a  great  part  of  Spain  is  deficient  in  the  garni 
ture  of  groves  and  forests,  and  the  softer  charms  of  ornamental 
cultivation,  yet  its  scenery  is  noble  in  its  severity  and  in  unison 
with  the  attributes  of  its  people;  and  I  think  that  I  better 
understand  the  proud,  hardy,  frugal,  and  abstemious  Spaniard, 
his  manly  defiance  of  hardships,  and  contempt  of  effeminate  in 
dulgences,  since  I  have  seen  the  country  he  inhabits. 

There  is  something,  too,  in  the  sternly  simple  features  of  the 
Spanish  landscape,  that  impresses  on  the  soul  a  feeling  of  sub 
limity.  The  immense  plains  of  the  Castiles  and  of  La  Mancha, 
extending  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach,  derive  an  interest  from 
their  very  nakedness  and  immensity,  and  possess,  in  some  degree, 
the  solemn  grandeur  of  the  ocean.  In  ranging  over  these  boundless 
wastes,  the  eye  catches  sight  here  and  there  of  a  straggling  herd 
of  cattle  attended  by  a  lonely  herdsman,  motionless  as  a  statue, 


THE   JOURNEY  3 

with  his  long  slender  pike  tapering  up  like  a  lance  into  the  air; 
or  beholds  a  long  train  of  mules  slowly  moving  along 'the  waste 
like  a  train  of  camels  in  the  desert ;  or  a  single  horseman,  armed 
with  blunderbuss  and  stiletto,  and  prowling  over  the  plain. 
Thus  the  country,  the  habits,  the  very  looks  of  the  people,  have 
something  of  the  Arabian  character.  The  general  insecurity  of 
the  country  is  evinced  in  the  universal  use  of  weapons.  The 
herdsman  in  the  field,  the  shepherd  in  the  plain,  has  his  musket 
and  his  knife.  The  wealthy  villager  rarely  ventures  to  the 
market-town  without  his  trabuco,  and,  perhaps,  a  servant  on 
foot  with  a  blunderbuss  on  his  shoulder ;  and  the  most  petty 
journey  is  undertaken  with  the  preparation  of  a  warlike  enter 
prise. 

The  dangers  of  the  road  produce  also  a  mode  of  travelling 
resembling,  on  a  diminutive  scale,  the  caravans  of  the  East. 
The  arrieros,  or  carriers,  congregate  in  convoys,  and  set  off  in 
large  and  well-armed  trains  on  appointed  days ;  while  additional 
travellers  swell  their  number,  and  contribute  to  their  strength. 
In  this  primitive  way  is  the  commerce  of  the  country  carried 
on.  The  muleteer  is  the  general  medium  of  traffic,  and  the 
legitimate  traverser  of  the  land,  crossing  the  peninsula  from  the 
Pyrenees  and  the  Asturias  to  the  Alpuxarras,  the  Serrania  de 
Ronda,  and  even  to  the  gates  of  Gibraltar.  .He  lives  frugally 
and  hardily  :  his  alforjas  of  coarse  cloth  hold  his  scanty  stock  of 
provisions ;  a  leathern  bottle,  hanging  at  his  saddle-bow,  con 
tains  wine  or  water,  for  a  supply  across  barren  mountains  and 
thirsty  plains  ;  a  mule-cloth  spread  upon  the  ground  is  his  bed 
at  night,  and  his  pack-saddle  his  pillow.  His  low,  but  clean 
limbed  and  sinewy  form  betokens  strength ;  his  complexion  is 
dark  and  sunburnt ;  his  eye  resolute,  but  quiet  in  its  expression, 
except  when  kindled  by  sudden  emotion  ;  his  demeanor  is  frank, 
manly,  and  courteous,  and  he  never  passes  you  without  a  grave 
salutation:  " Dios  guarde  a  usted!"  "Fa  usted  con  Dios, 
Caballero!  "  ' '  God  guard  you !  "  "God  be  with  you,  Cavalier !  " 


4  •  THE   ALHAMBRA 

As  these  men  have  often  their  whole  fortune  at  stake  upon 
the  burden  of  their  mules,  they  have  their  weapons  at  hand, 
slung  to  their  saddles,  and  ready  to  be  snatched  out  for  desper 
ate  defence ;  but  their  united  numbers  render  them  secure 
against  petty  bands  of  marauders,  and  the  solitary  bandolero, 
armed  to  the  teeth,  and  mounted  on  his  Andalusian  steed, 
hovers  about  them,  like  a  pirate  about  a  merchant  convoy, 
without  daring  to  assault. 

The  Spanish  muleteer  has  an  inexhaustible  stock  of  songs  and 
ballads,  with  which  to  beguile  his  incessant  wayfaring.  The 
airs  are  rude  and  simple,  consisting  of  but  few  inflections. 
These  he  chants  forth  with  a  loud  voice,  and  long,  drawling 
cadence,  seated  sideways  on  his  mule,  who  seems  to  listen  with 
infinite  gravity,  and  to  keep  time,  with  his  paces,  to  the  tune. 
The  couplets  thus  chanted  are  often  old  traditional  romances 
about  the  Moors,  or  some  legend  of  a  saint,  or  some  love-ditty ; 
or,  what  is  still  more  frequent,  some  ballad  about  a  bold  con- 
trabandista,  or  hardy  bandolero,  for  the  smuggler  and  the  robber 
are  poetical  heroes  among  the  common  people  of  Spain.  Often, 
the  song  of  the  muleteer  is  composed  at  the  instant,  and  relates 
to  some  local  scene,  or  some  incident  of  the  journey.  This 
talent  of  singing  and  improvising  is  frequent  in  Spain,  and  is 
said  to  have  been  inherited  from  the  Moors.  There  is  some 
thing  wildly  pleasing  in  listening  to  these  ditties  among  the 
rude  and  lonely  scenes  they  illustrate ;  accompanied,  as  they 
are,  by  the  occasional  jingle  of  the  mule-bell. 

It  has  a  most  picturesque  effect  also  to  meet  a  train  of  mule 
teers  in  some  mountain-pass.  First  you  hear  the  bells  of  the 
leading  mules,  breaking  with  their  simple  melody  the  stillness 
of  the  airy  height ;  or,  perhaps,  the  voice  of  the  muleteer  admon 
ishing  some  tardy  or  wandering  animal,  or  chanting,  at  the  full 
stretch  of  his  lungs,  some  traditionary  ballad.  At  length  you 
see  the  mules  slowly  winding  along  the  cragged  defile,  some 
times  descending  precipitous  cliffs,  so  as  to  present  themselves 


THE   JOURNEY  5 

in  full  relief  against  the  sky,  sometimes  toiling  up  the  deep  arid 
chasms  below  you.  As  they  approach,  you  descry  their  gay 
decorations  of  worsted  stuffs,  tassels,  and  saddle-cloths,  while, 
as  they  pass  by,  the  ever  ready  trabuco,  slung  behind  the  packs 
and  saddles,  gives  a  hint  of  the  insecurity  of  the  road. 

The  ancient  kingdom  of  Granada,  into  which  we  were  about 
to  penetrate,  is  one  of  the  most  mountainous  regions  of  Spain. 
Vast  sierras,  or  chains  of  mountains,  destitute  of  shrub  or  tree, 
and  mottled  with  variegated  marbles  and  granites,  elevate  their 
sunburnt  summits  against  a  deep-blue  sky ;  yet  in  their  rugged 
bosoms  lie  ingulfed  verdant  and  fertile  valleys,  where  the 
desert  and  the  garden  strive  for  mastery,  and  the  very  rock  is, 
as  it  were,  compelled  to  yield  the  fig,  the  orange,  and  the  citron, 
and  to  blossom  with  the  myrtle  and  the  rose. 

In  the  wild  passes  of  these  mountains  the  sight  of  walled 
towns  and  villages,  built  like  eagles'  nests  among  the  cliffs,  and 
surrounded  by  Moorish  battlements,  or  of  ruined  watch-towers 
perched  on  lofty  peaks,  carries  the  mind  back  to  the  chivalric 
days  of  Christian  and  Moslem  warfare,  and  to  the  romantic 
struggle  for  the  conquest  of  Granada.  In  traversing  these  lofty 
sierras  the  traveller  is  often  obliged  to  alight,  and  lead  his  horse  up 
and  down  the  steep  and  jagged  ascents  and  descents,  resembling  the 
broken  steps  of  a  staircase.  Sometimes  the  road  winds  along  dizzy 
precipices,  without  parapet  to  guard  him  from  the  gulfs  below, 
and  then  will  plunge  down  steep  and  dark  and  dangerous  decliv 
ities.  Sometimes  it  struggles  through  rugged  barrancos,  or 
ravines,  worn  by  winter  torrents,  the  obscure  path  of  the  con- 
trabandista ;  while,  ever  and  anon,  the  ominous  cross,  the  mon 
ument  of  robbery  and  murder,  erected  on  a  mound  of  stones  at 
some  lonely  part  of  the  road,  admonishes  the  traveller  that  he 
is  among  the  haunts  of  banditti,  perhaps  at  that  very  moment 
under  the  eye  of  some  lurking  bandolero.  Sometimes,  in  wind 
ing  through  the  narrow  valleys,  he  is  startled  by  a  hoarse  bel 
lowing,  and  beholds  above  him  on  some  green  fold  of  the 


6  THE    ALHAMBRA 

mountain  a  herd  of  fierce  Andalusian  bulls,  destined  for  the 
combat  of  the  arena.  I  have  felt,  if  I  may  so  express  it,  an 
agreeable  horror  in  thus  contemplating,  near  at  hand,  these 
terrific  animals,  clothed  with  tremendous  strength,  and  ranging 
their  native  pastures  in  untamed  wildness,  strangers  almost  to 
the  face  of  man  :  they  know  no  one  but  the  solitary  herdsman 
who  attends  upon  them,  and  even  he  at  times  dares  not  venture 
to  approach  them.  The  low  bellowing  of  these  bulls,  and  their 
menacing  aspect  as  they  look  down  from  their  rocky  height,  give 
additional  wildness  to  the  savage  scenery. 

I  have  been  betrayed  unconsciously  into  a  longer  disquisition 
than  I  intended  on  the  general  features  of  Spanish  travelling ; 
but  there  is  a  romance  about  all  the  recollections  of  the  Penin 
sula  dear  to  the  imagination. 

As  our  proposed  route  to  Granada  lay  through  mountainous 
regions,  where  the  roads  are  little  better  than  mule-paths,  and 
said  to  be  frequently  beset  by  robbers,  we  took  due  travelling 
precautions.  Forwarding  the  most  valuable  part  of  our  luggage 
a  day  or  two  in  advance  by  the  arrieros,  we  retained  merely 
clothing  and  necessaries  for  the  journey  and  money  for  the 
expenses  of  the  road ;  with  a  little  surplus  of  hard  dollars  by 
way  of  robber  purse,  to  satisfy  the  gentlemen  of  the  road  should 
we  be  assailed.  Unlucky  is  the  too  wary  traveller  who,  having 
grudged  this  precaution,  falls  into  their  clutches  empty-handed ; 
they  are  apt  to  give  him  a  sound  rib-roasting  for  cheating  them 
out  of  their  dues.  "  Caballeros  like  them  cannot  afford  to  scour 
the  roads  and  risk  the  gallows  for  nothing." 

A  couple  of  stout  steeds  were  provided  for  our  own  mount 
ing,  and  a  third  for  our  scanty  luggage  and  the  conveyance  of 
a  sturdy  Biscayan  lad,  about  twenty  years  of  age,  who  was  to 
be  our  guide,  our  groom,  our  valet,  and  at  all  times  our  guard. 
For  the  latter  office  he  was  provided  with  a  formidable  trabuco 
or  carbine,  with  which  he  promised  to  defend  us  against  rateros 
or  solitary  foot-pads;  but  as  to  powerful  bands,  like  that  of 


THE   JOURNEY  7 

the  "Sons  of  Ecija,"  he  confessed  they  were  quite  beyond  his 
prowess.  He  made  much  vainglorious  boast  about  his  weapon 
at  the  outset  of  the  journey ;  though,  to  the  discredit  of  his 
generalship,  it  was  suffered  to  hang  unloaded  behind  his  saddle. 

According  to  our  stipulations,  the  man  from  whom  we  hired 
the  horses  was  to  be  at  the  expense  of  their  feed  and  stabling 
on  the  journey,  as  well  as  of  the  maintenance  of  our  Biscay  an 
squire,  who  of  course  was  provided  with  funds  for  the  purpose ; 
we  took  care,  however,  to  give  the  latter  a  private  hint,  that, 
though  we  made  a  close  bargain  with  his  master,  it  was  all  in 
his  favor,  as,  if  he  proved  a  good  man  and  true,  both  he  and  the 
horses  should  live  at  our  cost,  and  the  money  provided  for  their 
maintenance  remain  in  his  pocket.  This  unexpected  largess, 
with  the  occasional  present  of  a  cigar,  won  his  heart  completely. 
He  was,  in  truth,  a  faithful,  cheery,  kind-hearted  creature,  as 
full  of  saws  and  proverbs  as  that  miracle  of  squires,  the  renowned 
Sancho  himself,  whose  name,  by  the  by,  we  bestowed  upon  him, 
and,  like  a  true  Spaniard,  though  treated  by  us  with  compan 
ionable  familiarity,  he  never  for  a  moment,  in  his  utmost  hilar 
ity,  overstepped  the  bounds  of  respectful  decorum. 

Such  were  our  minor  preparations  for  the  journey,  but  above 
all  we  laid  in  an  ample  stock  of  good-humor,  and  a  genuine  dis 
position  to  be  pleased ;  determining  to  travel  in  true  contraban- 
dista  style ;  taking  things  as  we  found  them,  rough  or  smooth, 
and  mingling  with  all  classes  and  conditions  in  a  kind  of  vaga 
bond  companionship.  It  is  the  true  way  to  travel  in  Spain. 
With  such  disposition  and  determination,  what  a  country  is  it* 
for  a  traveller,  where  the  most  miserable  inn  is  as  full  of  adven 
ture  as  an  enchanted  castle,  and  every  meal  is  in  itself  an 
achievement !  Let  others  repine  at  the  lack  of  turnpike  roads 
and  sumptuous  hotels,  and  all  the  elaborate  comforts  of  a  coun 
try  cultivated  and  civilized  into  tameness  and  commonplace ; 
but  give  me  the  rude  mountain  scramble  ;  the  roving,  hap-hazard 
wayfaring;  the  half  wild,  yet  frank  and  hospitable  manners, 


8  THE    ALHAMBRA 

which  impart  such  a  true  game-flavor  to  dear  old  romantic 
Spain  ! 

Thus  equipped  and  attended,  we  cantered  out  of  "Fair  Seville 
city  "  at  half-past  six  in  the  morning  of  a  bright  May  day,  in 
company  with  a  lady  and  gentleman  of  our  acquaintance,  who 
rode  a  few  miles  with  us,  in  the  Spanish  mode  of  taking  leave. 
Our  route  lay  through  old  Alcala  de  Guadaira  (Alcala  on  the 
river  Aira),  the  benefactress  of  Seville,  that  supplies  it  with 
bread  and  water.  Here  live  the  bakers  who  furnish  Seville  with 
that  delicious  bread  for  which  it  is  renowned ;  here  are  fabricated 
those  roscas  well  known  by  the  well-merited  appellation  of  pan 
de  Dios  (bread  of  God) ;  with  which,  by  the  way,  we  ordered  our 
man,  Sancho,  to  stock  his  alforjas  for  the  journey.  Well  has 
this  beneficent  little  city  been  denominated  the  "  Oven  of 
Seville";  well  has  it  been  called  Alcala  de  los  Panaderos  (Alcala 
of  the  bakers),  for  a  great  part  of  its  inhabitants  are  of  that 
handicraft,  and  the  highway  hence  to  Seville  is  constantly 
traversed  by  lines  of  mules  and  donkeys  laden  with  great  pan 
niers  of  loaves  and  roscas. 

I  have  said  Alcala  supplies  Seville  with  water.  Here  are 
great  tanks  or  reservoirs,  of  Roman  and  Moorish  construction, 
whence  water  is  conveyed  to  Seville  by  noble  aqueducts.  The 
springs  of  Alcala  are  almost  as  much  vaunted  as  its  ovens ;  and 
to  the  lightness,  sweetness,  and  purity  of  its  water  is  attributed 
in  some  measure  the  delicacy  of  its  bread. 

Here  we  halted  for  a  time,  at  the  ruins  of  the  old  Moorish 
castle,  a  favorite  resort  for  picnic  parties  from  Seville,  where  we 
had  passed  many  a  pleasant  hour.  The  walls  are  of  great  ex 
tent,  pierced  with  loopholes ;  enclosing  a  huge  square  tower  or 
keep,  with  the  remains  of  masmoras,  or  subterranean  granaries. 
The  Guadaira  winds  its  stream  round  the  hill,  at  the  foot  of 
these  ruins,  whimpering  among  reeds,  rushes,  and  pond-lilies, 
and  overhung  with  rhododendron,  eglantine,  yellow  myrtle,  and 
a  profusion  of  wild  flowers  and  aromatic  shrubs ;  while  along 


THE    JOURNEY  9 

its  banks  are  groves  of  oranges,  citrons,  and  pomegranates,  among 
which  we  heard  the  early  note  of  the  nightingale. 

A  picturesque  bridge  was  thrown  across  the  little  river,  at 
one  end  of  which  was  the  ancient  Moorish  mill  of  the  castle,  de 
fended  by  a  tower  of  yellow  stone ;  a  fisherman's  net  hung 
against  the  wall  to  dry,  and  hard  by  in  the  river  was  his  boat ; 
a  group  of  peasant  women  in  bright-colored  dresses,  crossing  the 
arched  bridge,  were  reflected  in  the  placid  stream.  Altogether 
it  was  an  admirable  scene  for  a  landscape-painter. 

The  old  Moorish  mills,  so  often  found  on  secluded  streams,  are 
characteristic  objects  in  Spanish  landscape,  and  suggestive  of 
the  perilous  times  of  old.  They  are  of  stone,  and  often  in  the 
form  of  towers  with  loopholes  and  battlements,  capable  of  de 
fence  in  those  warlike  days  when  the  country  on  both  sides  of 
the  border  was  subject  to  sudden  inroad  and  hasty  ravage,  and 
when  men  had  to  labor  with  their  weapons  at  hand,  and  some 
place  of  temporary  refuge. 

Our  next  halting-place  was  at  Gandul,  where  were  the  re 
mains  of  another  Moorish  castle,  with  its  ruined  tower,  a  nest 
ling-place  for  storks,  and  commanding  a  view  over  a  vast  campina 
or  fertile  plain,  with  the  mountains  of  Ronda  in  the  distance. 
These  castles  were  strongholds  to  protect  the  plains  from  the 
talas  or  forays  to  which  they  were  subject,  when  the  fields  of 
corn  would  be  laid  waste,  the  flocks  and  herds  swept  from  the 
vast  pastures,  and,  together  with  captive  peasantry,  hurried  off 
in  long  cavalgadas  across  the  borders. 

At  Gandul  we  found  a  tolerable  posada ;  the  good  folks  could 
not  tell  us  what  time  of  day  it  was,  the  clock  only  struck  once 
in  the  day,  two  hours  after  noon  ;  unti^  that  time  it  was  guess 
work.  We  guessed  it  was  full  time  to  eat ;  so,  alighting,  we 
ordered  a  repast.  While  that  was  in  preparation,  we  visited 
the  palace  once  the  residence  of  the  Marquis  of  Gandul.  All 
was  gone  to  decay ;  there  were  but  two  or  three  rooms  habita 
ble,  and  very  poorly  furnished.  Yet  here  were  the  remains  of 


10  THE    ALHAMBRA 

grandeur :  a  terrace,  where  fair  dames  and  gentle  cavaliers  may 
once  have  walked ;  a  fish-pond  and  ruined  garden,  with  grape 
vines  and  date-bearing  palm-trees.  Here  we  were  joined  by  a 
fat  curate,  who  gathered  a  bouquet  of  roses,  and  presented  it, 
very  gallantly,  to  the  lady  who  accompanied  us. 

Below  the  palace  was  the  mill,  with  orange-trees  and  aloes  in 
front,  and  a  pretty  stream  of  pure  water.  We  took  a  seat  in 
the  shade ;  and  the  millers,  all  leaving  their  work,  sat  down  and 
smoked  with  us ;  for  the  Andalusians  are  always  ready  for  a 
gossip.  They  were  waiting  for  the  regular  visit  of  the  barber, 
who  came  once  a  week  to  put  all  their  chins  in  order.  He 
arrived  shortly  afterwards  :  a  lad  of  seventeen,  mounted  on  a 
donkey,  eager  to  display  his  new  alforjas  or  saddle-bags,  just 
bought  at  a  fair ;  price  one  dollar,  to  be  paid  on  St.  John's  day 
(in  June),  by  which  time  he  trusted  to  have  mown  beards  enough 
to  put  him  in  funds. 

By  the  time  the  laconic  clock  of  the  castle  had  struck  two  we 
had  finished  our  dinner.  So,  taking  leave  of  our  Seville  friends, 
and  leaving  the  millers  still  under  the  hands  of  the  barber,  we 
set  off  on  our  ride  across  the  campina.  It  was  one  of  those 
vast  plains,  common  in  Spain,  where  for  miles  and  miles  there 
is  neither  house  nor  tree.  Unlucky  the  traveller  who  has  to 
traverse  it,  exposed  as  we  were  to  heavy  and  repeated  showers 
of  rain.  There  is  no  escape  nor  shelter.  Our  only  protection 
was  our  Spanish  cloaks,  which  nearly  covered  man  and  horse, 
but  grew  heavier  every  mile.  By  the  time  we  had  lived  through 
one  shower  we  would  see  another  slowly  but  inevitably  approach 
ing  ;  fortunately  in  the  interval  there  would  be  an  outbreak  of 
bright,  warm,  Andalusjan  sunshine,  which  would  make  our 
cloaks  send  up  wreaths  of  steam,  but  which  partially  dried 
them  before  the  next  drenching. 

Shortly  after  sunset  we  arrived  at  Arahal,  a  little  town  among 
the  hills.  We  found  it  in  a  bustle  with  a  party  of  miquelets, 
who  were  patrolling  the  country  to  ferret  out  robbers.  The 


JOURNEY  11 


appearance  of  foreigners  like  ourselves  was  an  unusual  circum 
stance  in  an  interior  country  town  ;  and  little  Spanish  towns  of 
the  kind  are  easily  put  in  a  state  of  gossip  and  wonderment  by 
such  an  occurrence.  Mine  host,  with  two  or  three  old  wiseacre 
comrades  in  brown  cloaks,  studied  our  passports  in  a  corner  of 
the  posada,  while  an  Alguazil  took  notes  by  the  dim  light  of  a 
lamp.  The  passports  were  in  foreign  languages  and  perplexed 
them,  but  our  Squire  Sancho  assisted  them  in  their  studies,  and 
magnified  our  importance  with  the  grandiloquence  of  a  Spaniard. 
In  the  meantime  the  magnificent  distrTBtrtion  of  a  few  cigars 
had  won  the  hearts  of  all  around  us  ;  in  a  little  while  the  whole 
community  seemed  put  in  agitation  to  make  us  welcome.  The 
corregidor  himself  waited  upon  us,  and  a  great  rush-bottomed 
arm-chair  was  ostentatiously  bolstered  into  our  room  by  our 
landlady,  for  the  "accommodation  of  that  important  personage. 
The  commander  of  the  patrol  took  supper  with  us  :  a  lively, 
talking,  laughing  Andaluz,  who  had  made  a  campaign  in  South 
America,  and  recounted  his  exploits  in  love  and  war  with  much 
pomp  of  phrase,  vehemence  of  gesticulation,  and  mysterious 
rolling  of  the  eye.  He  told  us  that  he  had  a  list  of  all  the 
robbers  in  the  country,  and  meant  to  ferret  out  every  mother's 
sou  of  them  ;  he  offered  us  at  the  same  time  some  of  his  soldiers 
as  an  escort.  "  One  is  enough  to  protect  you,  senors  ;  the  rob 
bers  know  me,  and  know  my  men  ;  the  sight  of  one  is  enough 
to  spread  terror  through  a  whole  sierra."  We  thanked  him  for 
his  offer,  but  assured  him,  in  his  own  strain,  that  with  the  pro 
tection  of  our  redoubtable  squire,  Sancho,  we  were  not  afraid  of 
all  the  ladrones  of  Andalusia. 

*H  While  we  were  supping  with  our  drawcansir  friend,  we 
'heard  the  notes  of  a  guitar,  and  the  click  of.  castanets,  and 
presently  a  chorus  of  voices  singing  a  popular  air.  In  fact, 
mine  host  had  gathered  together  the  amateur  singers  and  musi 
cians,  and  the  rustic  belles  of  the  neighborhood,  and,  on  going 
forth,  the  court-yard  or  patio  of  the  inn  presented  a  scene  of 


12  THE    ALHAMBRA 

true  Spanish  festivity.  We  took  our  seats  with  mine  host  and 
hostess  and  the  commander  of  the  patrol,  under  an  archway 
opening  into  the  court ;  the  guitar  passed  from  hand  to  hand, 
but  a  jovial  shoemaker  was  the  Orpheus  of  the  place.  He  was 
a  pleasant  looking  fellow,  with  huge  black  whiskers ;  his  sleeves 
were  rolled  up  to  his  elbows.  He  touched  the  guitar  with 
masterly  skill,  and  sang  a  little  amorous  ditty  with  an  expres 
sive  leer  at  the  women,  with  whom  he  was  evidently  a  favorite. 
He  afterwards  danced  a  fandango  with  a  buxom  Andalusian 
damsel,  to  the  great  delight  of  the  spectators.  But  none  of  the 
females  present  could  compare  with  mine  host's  pretty  daughter, 
Pepita,  who  had  slipped  away  and  made  her  toilette  for  the 
occasion,  and  had  covered  her  head  with  roses ;  and  who  dis 
tinguished  herself  in  a  bolero  with  a  handsome  young  dragoon. 
We  ordered  our  host  to  let  wine  and  refreshment  circulate 
freely  among  the  company,  yet,  though  there  was  a  motley 
assembly  of  soldiers,  muleteers,  and  villagers,  no  one  exceeded 
the  bounds  of  sober  enjoyment.  The  scene  was  a  study  for  a 
painter :  the  picturesque  group  of  dancers,  the  troopers  in  their 
half  military  dresses,  the  peasantry  wrapped  in  their  brown 
cloaks ;  nor  must  I  omit  to  mention  the  old  meagre  Alguazil, 
in  a  short  black  cloak,  who  took  no  notice  of  anything  going 
on,  but  sat  in  a  corner  diligently  writing  by  the  dim  light  of 
a  huge  copper  lamp,  that  might  have  figured  in  the  days  of 
Don  Quixote. 

The  following  morning  was  bright  and  balmy,  as  a  May 
morning  ought  to  be,  according  to  the  poets.  Leaving  Arahal 
at  seven  o'clock,  with  all  the  posada  at  the  door  to  cheer  us  off, 
we  pursued  our  way  through  a  fertile  country,  covered  with 
grain  and  beautifully  verdant ;  but  which  in  summer,  when  the 
harvest  is  over  and  the  fields  parched  and  brown,  must  be 
monotonous  and  lonely ;  for,  as  in  our  ride  of  yesterday,  there 
were  neither  houses  nor  people  to  be  seen.  The  latter  all 
congregate  in  villages  and  strongholds  among  the  hills,  as 


THE   JOURNEY  13 

if  these  fertile  plains  were  still  subject  to  the  ravages  of  the 
Moor. 

At  noon  we  came  to  where  there  was  a  group  of  trees, 
beside  a  brook  in  a  rich  meadow.  Here  we  alighted  to  make 
our  mid-day  meal.  It  was  really  a  luxurious  spot,  among  wild 
flowers  and  aromatic  herbs,  with  birds  singing  around  us. 
Knowing  the  scanty  larders  of  Spanish  inns,  and  the  houseless 
tracts  we  might  have  to  traverse,  we  had  taken  care  to  have 
the  alforjas  of  our  squire  well  stocked  with  cold  provisions,  and 
his  bota,  or  leathern  bottle,  which  might  hold  a  gallon,  filled  to 
the  neck  with  choice  Valdepenas  wine.2  As  we  depended  more 
upon  these  for  our  well-being  than  even  his  trabuco,  we  ex 
horted  him  to  be  more  attentive  in  keeping  them  well  charged ; 
and  I  must  do  him  the  justice  to  say  that  his  namesake,  the 
trencher-loving  Sancho  Panza,  was  never  a  more  pj'oyid.eiLt 
purveyor.  Though  the  alforjas  and  the  bota  were  frequently 
and  vigorously  assailed  throughout  the  journey,  they  had 
a  wonderful  power  of  repletion,  our  vigilant  squire  sacking 
everything  that  remained  from  our  repasts  at  the  inns,  to 
suppy  these  junketings  by  the  road-side,  which  were  his 
delight. 

On  the  present  occasion  he  spread  quite  a  sumptuous  variety 
of  remnants  on  the  greensward  before  us,  graced  with  an  excel 
lent  ham  brought  from  Seville ;  then,  taking  his  seat  at  a  little 
distance,  he  solaced  himself  with  what  remained  in  the  alforjas. 
A  visit  or  two  to  the  bota  made  him  as  merry  and  chirruping 
as  a  grasshopper  filled  with  dew.  On  my  comparing  his  con 
tents  of  the  alforjas  to  Sancho's  skimming  of  the  flesh-pots  at 
the  wedding  of  Cammacho,  I  found  he  was  well  versed  in  the 
history  of  Don  Quixote,  but,  like  many  of  the  common  people 
of  Spain,  firmly  believed  it  to  be  a  true  history. 

"All  that  happened  a  long  time  ago,  senor,"  said  he,  with 
an  inquiring  look. 

"  A  very  long  time,"  I  replied. 


14  THE   ALHAMBRA 

"I  dare  say  more  than  a  thousand  years,"  —  still  looking 
dubiously. 

"  I  dare  say  not  less." 

The  squire  was  satisfied.  Nothing  pleased  the  simple-hearted 
varlet  more  than  my  comparing  him  to  the  renowned  Sancho 
for  devotion  to  the  trencher ;  arid  he  called  himself  by  no  other 
name  throughout  the  journey. 

V  Our  repast  being  finished,  we  spread  our  cloaks  on  the  green 
sward  under  the  tree,  and  took  a  luxurious  siesta,  in  the  Span 
ish  fashion.  The  clouding  up  of  the  weather,  however,  warned 
us  to  depart,  and  a  harsh  wind  sprang  up  from  the  southeast.. 
Toward  five  o'clock  we  arrived  at  Osuna,  a  town  of  fifteen  thou 
sand  inhabitants,  situated  on  the  side  of  a  hill,  with  a  church 
and  a  ruined  castle.  The  posada  was  outside  of  the  walls ;  it  had 
a  cheerless  look.  The  evening  being  cold,  the  inhabitants  were 
crowded  round  a  brasero  in  a  chimney-corner ;  and  the  hostess 
was  a  dry  old  woman,  who  looked  like  a  mummy.  Every  one 
eyed  us  askance  as  we  entered,  as  Spaniards  are  apt  to  regard 
strangers ;  a  cheery,  respectful  salutation  on  our  part,  caballero- 
ing  them  and  touching  our  sombreros,  set  Spanish  pride  at  ease ; 
and  when  we  took  our  seat  among  them,  lit  our  cigars,  and 
passed  the  cigar  box  round  among  them,  our  victory  was  com 
plete.  I  have  never  known  a  Spaniard,  whatever  his  rank  or 
condition,  who  would  suffer  himself  to  be  outdone  in  courtesy ; 
and  to  the  common  Spaniard  the  present  of  a  cigar  (puro)  is 
irresistible.  Care,  however,  must  be  taken  never  to  offer  him 
a  present  with  an  air  of  superiority  and  condescension  ;  he  is  too 
much  of  a  caballero  to  receive  favors  at  the  cost  of  his  dignity. 

Leaving  Osuna  at  an  early  hour  the  next  morning,  we  entered 
the  sierra  or  range  of  mountains.  The  road  wound  through 
picturesque  scenery,  but  lonely ;  and  a  cross  here  and  there  by 
the  roadside,  the  sign  of  a  murder,  showed  that  we  were  now 
coming  among  the  "robber  haunts."  This  wild  and  intricate 
country,  with  its  silent  plains  and  valleys  intersected  by  rnoun- 


THE   JOURNEY  15 

tains,  has  ever  been  famous  for  banditti.  It  was  here  that 
Omar  Ibn  Hassan,  a  robber-chief  among  the  Moslems,  held 
ruthless  sway  in  the  ninth  century,  disputing  dominion  even 
with  the  caliphs  of  Cordova.  This  too  was  a  part  of  the  re 
gions  so  often  ravaged  during  the  reign  of  Ferdinand  and  Isa 
bella  by  Ali  Atar,  the  old  Moorish  alcayde  of  Loxa,  father-in-law 
of  Boabdil,  so  that  it  was  called  Ali  Atar's  garden,  and  here 
"  Jose  Maria,"  famous  in  Spanish  brigand  story,  had  his  favorite 
lurking-places. 

In  the  course  of  the  day  we  passed  through  Fuente  la  Piedra, 
near  a  little  salt  lake  of  the  same  name,  a  beautiful  sheet  of 
water,  reflecting  like  a  mirror  the  distant  mountains.  We  now 
came  in  sight  of  Antiquera,  that  old  city  of  warlike  reputation, 
lying  in  the  lap  of  the  great  sierra,  which  runs  through  Anda 
lusia.  A  noble  vega  spread  out  before  it,  a  picture  of  mild 
fertility  set  in  a  frame  of  rocky  mountains.  Crossing  a  gentle 
river  we  approached  the  city  between  hedges  and  gardens,  in 
which  nightingales  were  pouring  forth  their  evening  song. 
About  nightfall  we  arrived  at  the  gates.  Everything  in  this 
venerable  city  has  a  decidedly  Spanish  stamp.  It  lies  too  much 
out  of  the  frequented  track  of  foreign  travel  to  have  its  old 
usages  trampled  out.  Here  I  observed  old  men  still  wearing 
the  montero,  or  ancient  bun  ting-cap,  once  common  throughout 
Spain ;  while  the  young  men  wore  the  little  round-crowned  hat, 
with  brim  turned  up  all  round,  like  a  cup  turned  down  in  its 
saucer ;  while  the  brim  was  set  off  with  little  black  tufts  like 
cockades.  The  women,  too,  were  all  in  mantillas  and  basquinas. 
The  fashions  of  Paris  had  not  reached  Antiquera. 

Pursuing  our  course  through  a  spacious  street,  we  put  up  at 
the  posada  of  San  Fernando.  As  Antiquera,  though  a  consider 
able  city,  is,  as  I  observed,  somewhat  out  of  the  track  of  travel, 
I  had  anticipated  bad  quarters  and  poor  fare  at  the  inn.  I  was 
agreeably  disappointed,  therefore,  by  a  supper-table  amply  sup 
plied,  and  what  were  still  more  acceptable,  good  clean  rooms  and 


16  THE   ALHAMBRA 

comfortable  beds.  Our  man  Sancho  felt  himself  as  well  off  as 
his  namesake  when  he  had  the  run  of  the  duke's  kitchen,  and 
let  me  know,  as  I  retired  for  the  night,  that  it  had  been  a  proud 
time  for  the  alforjas. 

Early  in  the  morning  (May  4th)  I  strolled  to  the  ruins  of  the 
old  Moorish  castle,  which  itself  had  been  reared  on  the  ruins  of 
a  Roman  fortress.  Here,  taking  my  seat  on  the  remains  of  a 
crumbling  tower,  I  enjoyed  a  grand  and  varied  landscape,  beau 
tiful  in  itself,  and  full  of  storied  and  romantic  associations ;  for ' 
I  was  now  in  the  very  heart  of  the  country  famous  for  the  chiv 
alrous  contests  between  Moor  and  Christian.  Below  me,  in  its 
lap  of  hills,  lay  the  old  warrior  city  so  often  mentioned  in  chroni 
cle  and  ballad.  Out  of  yon  gate  and  down  yon  hill  paraded  the 
band  of  Spanish  cavaliers,  of  highest  rank  and  bravest  bearing, 
to  make  that  foray  during  the  war  and  conquest  of  Granada, 
which  ended  in  the  lamentable  massacre  among  the  mountains 
of  Malaga,  and  laid  all  Andalusia  in  mourning.  Beyond  spread 
out  the  vega,  covered  with  gardens  and  orchards  and  fields  of 
grain  and  enamelled  meadows,  inferior  only  to  the  famous  vega 
of  Granada.  To  the  right  the  Rock  of  the  Lovers  stretched 
like  a  cragged  promontory  into  the  plain,  whence  the  daugh 
ter  of  the  Moorish  alcayde  and  her  lover,  when  closely  pursued, 
threw  themselves  in  despair. 

The  matin  peal  from  church  and  convent  below  me  rang 
sweetly  in  the  morning  air,  as  I  descended.  The  market-place 
was  beginning  to  throng  with  the  populace,  who  traffic  in  the 
abundant  produce  of  the  vega ;  for  this  is  the  mart  of  an  agri 
cultural  region.  In  the  market-place  were  abundance  of  freshly 
plucked  roses  for  sale ;  for  not  a  dame  or  damsel  of  Andalusia 
thinks  her  gala  dress  complete  without  a  rose  shining  like  a 
gem  among  her  raven  tresses. 

On  returning  to  the  inn  I  found  our  man  Sancho  in  high 
gossip  with  the  landlord  and  two  or  three  of  his  hangers-on. 
He  had  just  been  telling  some  marvellous  story  about  Seville, 


THE   JOURNEY  17 

which  mine  host  seemed  piqued  to  match  with  one  equally  mar 
vellous  about  Antiquera.  There  was  once  a  fountain,  he  said, 
in  one  of  the  public  squares,  called  II  fuente  del  toro  (the  foun 
tain  of  the  bull),  because  the  water  gushed  from  the  mouth  of 
a  bull's  head,  carved  of  stone.  Underneath  the  head  was  in 
scribed,  — 

En  frente  del  toro 

Se  hallen  tesoro. 

(In  front  of  the  bull  there  is  treasure.)  Many  digged  in  front 
of  the  fountain,  but  lost  their  labor  and  found  no  money.  At 
last  one  knowing  fellow  construed  the  motto  a  different  way. 
It  is  in  the  forehead  (frente)  of  the  bull  that  the  treasure  is  to 
be  found,  said  he  to  himself,  and  I  am  the  man  to  find  it. 
Accordingly  he  came,  late  at  night,  with  a  mallet,  and  knocked 
the  head  to  pieces ;  and  what  do  you  think  he  found  1 

"  Plenty  of  gold  and  diamonds  !  "  cried  Sancho,  eagerly. 

"He  found  nothing,"  rejoined  mine  host,  dryly,  "and  he 
ruined  the  fountain." 

Here  a  great  laugh  was  set  up  by  the  landlord's  hangers-on  ; 
who  considered  Sancho  completely  taken  in  by  what  I  presume 
was  one  of  mine  host's  standing  jokes. 

Leaving  Antiquera  at  eight  o'clock,  we  had  a  delightful  ride 
along  the  little  river,  and  by  gardens  and  orchards  fragrant  with 
the  odors  of  spring  and  Vocal  with  the  nightingale.  Our  road 
passed  round  the  Rock  of  the  Lovers  (el  penon  de  los  enamora- 
dos\  which  rose  in  a  precipice  above  us.  In  the  course  of  the 
morning  we  passed  through  Archiclona,  situated  in  the  breast 
of  a  high  hill,  with  a  three-pointed  mountain  towering  above  it, 
and  the  ruins  of  a  Moorish  fortress.  It  was  a  great  toil  to 
ascend  a  steep  stony  street  leading  up  into  the  city,  although  it 
bore  the  encouraging^name  of  Calle  Real  del  Llano  (the  royal 
street  of  the  plain),  but  it  was  still  a  greater  toil  to  descend 
from  this  mountain  city  on  the  other  side. 

At  noon  we  halted  in  sight  of  Archidona,  in  a  pleasant  little 
o 


18  THE    ALHAMBRA 

meadow  among  hills  covered  with  olive-trees.  Our  cloaks  were 
spread  on  the  grass,  under  an  elm  by  the  side  of  a  bubbling 
rivulet ;  our  horses  were  tethered  where  they  might  crop  the 
herbage,  and  Sancho  was  told  to  produce  his  alforjas.  He  had 
been  unusually  silent  this  morning  ever  since  the  laugh  raised  at 
his  expense,  but  now  his  countenance  brightened,  and  he  pro 
duced  his  alforjas  with  an  air  of  triumph.  They  contained  the 
contribution  of  four  days'  journeying,  but  had  been  signally  en 
riched  by  the  foraging  of  the  previous  evening  in  the  plenteous 
inn  at  Antiquera ;  and  this  seemed  to  furnish  him  with  a  set-off 
to  the  banter  of  mine  host. 

En  frente  del  toro 
Se  hallen  tesoro 

would  he  exclaim,  with  a  chuckling  laugh,  as  he  drew  forth  the 
heterogeneous  contents  one  by  one,  in  a  series  which  seemed  to 
have  no  end.  *  First  came  forth  a  shoulder  of  roasted  kid,  very 
little  the  worse  for  wear ;  then  an  entire  partridge ;  then  a  great 
morsel  of  salted  codfish  wrapped  in  paper ;  then  the  residue  of 
a  ham ;  then  the  half  of  a  pullet,  together  with  several  rolls  of 
bread,  and  a  rabble  rout  of  oranges,  figs,  raisins,  and  walnuts. 
His  bota  also  had  been  recruited  with  some  excellent  wine  of 
Malaga.  At  every  fresh  apparition  from  his  larder,  he  would  en 
joy  our  ludicrous  surprise,  throwing  himself  back  on  the  grass, 
shouting  with  laughter,  and  exclaiming,  "Frente  del  toro  !  frente 
del  toro!  Ah,  seiiors,  they  thought  Sancho  a  simpleton  at 
Antiquera;  but  Sancho  knew  where  to  find  the  tesoro." 

While  we  were  diverting  ourselves  with  his  simple  drollery, 
a  solitary  beggar  approached,  who  had  almost  the  look  of  a 
pilgrim.  He  had  a  venerable  gray  beard,  and  was  evidently 
very  old,  supporting  himself  on  a  staff,  yet  age  had  not  bowed 
him  down ;  he  was  tall  and  erect,  and  had  the  wreck  of  a  fine 
form.  He  wore  a  round  Andalusian  hat,  a  sheepskin  jacket, 
and  leathern  breeches,  gaiters,  and  sandals.  His  dress,  though 


THE   JOURNEY  19 

old  and  patched,  was  decent,  his  demeanor  manly,  and  he  ad 
dressed  us  with  the  grave  courtesy  that  is  to  be  remarked  in 
the  lowest  Spaniard.  We  were  in  a  favorable  mood  for  such  a 
visitor ;  and  in  a  freak  of  capricious  charity  gave  him  some 
silver,  a  loaf  of  fine  wheaten  bread,  and  a  goblet  of  our  choice 
wine  of  Malaga.  He  received  them  thankfully,  but  without 
any  grovelling  tribute  of  gratitude.  Tasting  the  wine,  he  held 
it  up  to  the  light,  with  a  slight  beam  of  surprise  in  his  eye ; 
then  quaffing  it  off  at  a  draught,  "It  is  many  years,"  said  he, 
"  since  I  have  tasted  such  wine.  It  is  a  cordial  to  an  old  man's 
heart."  Then,  looking  at  the  beautiful  wheaten  loaf,  "  bendito 
sea  tal  pan!  "  (blessed  be  such  bread !)  So  saying,  he  put  it 
in  his  wallet.  We  urged  him  to  eat  it  on  the  spot.  "No, 
seiiors,"  replied  he,  "the  wine  I  had  either  to  drink  or  leave; 
but  the  bread  I  may  take  home  to  share  with  my  family." 

Our  man  Sancho  sought  our  eye,  and  reading  permission  there, 
gave  the  old  man  some  of  the  ample  fragments  of  our  repast,  on 
condition,  however,  that  he  should  sit  down  and  make  a  meal. 

He  accordingly  took  his  seat  at  some  little  distance  from  us, 
and  began  to  eat  slowly,  and  with  a  sobriety  and  decorum  that 
would  have  become  a  hidalgo.  There  was  altogether  a  meas 
ured  manner  and  a  quiet  self-possession  about  the  old  man,  that 
made  me  think  that  he  had  seen  better  days :  his  language,  too, 
though  simple,  had  occasionally  something  picturesque  and 
almost  poetical  in  the  phraseology.  I  set  him  down  for  some 
broken-down  cavalier.  I  was  mistaken;  it  was  nothing  but 
the  innate  courtesy  of  a  Spaniard,  and  the  poetical  turn  of 
thought  and  language  often  to  be  found  in  the  lowest  classes 
of  this  clear-witted  people.  For  fifty  years,  he  told  us,  he  had 
been  a  shepherd,  but  now  he  was  out  of  employ  and  destitute. 
"When  I  was  a  young  man,"  said  he,  "nothing  could  harm  or 
trouble  me ;  I  was  always  well,  always  gay ;  but  now  I  am 
seventy-nine  years  of  age,  and  a  beggar,  and  my  heart  begins  to 
fail  me," 


20  THE    ALHAMBRA 

Still  he  was  not  a  regular  mendicant :  it  was  not  until 
recently  that  want  had  driven  him  to  this  degradation ;  and 
he  gave  a  touching  picture  of  the  struggle  between  hunger  and 
pride,  when  abject  destitution  first  came  upon  him.  He  was 
returning  from  Malaga  without  money ;  he  had  not  tasted  food 
for  some  time,  and  was  crossing  one  of  the  great  plains  of  Spain, 
where  there  were  but  few  habitations.  When  almost  dead 
witlj  hunger,  he  applied  at  the  door  of  a  venta  or  country  inn. 
"  Perdon  usted  por  Dios  hermano  !  "  (Excuse  us,  brother,  for 
God's  sake !)  was  the  reply  —  the  usual  mode  in  Spain  of  refus 
ing  a  beggar.  "I  turned  away,"  said  he,  "with  shame  greater 
than  my  hunger,  for  my  heart  was  yet  too  proud.  I  came  to  a 
river  with  high  banks,  and  deep,  rapid  current,  and  felt  tempted 
to  throw  myself  in :  '  What  should  such  an  old,  worthless, 
wretched  man  as  I  live  for?'  But  when  I  was  on  the  brink 
of  the  current,  I  thought  on  the  blessed  Virgin,  and  turned 
away.  I  travelled  on  until  I  saw  a  country-seat  at  a  little  dis 
tance  from  the  road,  and  entered  the  outer  gate  of  the  court 
yard.  The  door  was  shut,  but  there  were  two  young  senoras 
at  a  window.  I  approached  and  begged  ;  —  '  Perdon  usted  por 
Dios  hermano ! '  —  and  the  window  closed.  I  crept  out  of 
the  courtyard,  but  hunger  overcame  me,  and  my  heart  gave 
way :  I  thought  my  hour  at  hand,  so  I  laid  myself  down  at  the 
gate,  commended  myself  to  the  Holy  Virgin,  and  covered  my 
head  to  die.  In  a  little  while  afterwards  the  master  of  the 
house  came  home :  seeing  me  lying  at  his  gate,  he  uncovered 
my  head,  had  pity  on  my  gray  hairs,  took  me  into  his  house, 
and  gave  me  food.  So,  senors,  you  see  that  one  should  always 
put  confidence  in  the  protection  of  the  Virgin." 

The  old  man  was  on  his  way  to  his  native  place,  Archidona, 
which  was  in  full  view  on  its  steep  and  rugged  mountain.  He 
pointed  to  the  ruins  of  its  castle.  "  That  castle,"  he  said, 
"was  inhabited  by  a  Moorish  king  at  the  time  of  the  wars  of 
Granada.  Queen  Isabella  invaded  it  with  a  great  army ;  but 


THE   JOURNEY  21 

the  king  looked  down  from  his  castle  among  the  clouds,  and 
laughed  her  to  scorn  !  Upon  this  the  Virgin  appeared  to  the 
queen,  and  guided  her  and  her  army  up  a  mysterious  path  in 
the  mountains,  which  had  never  before  been  known.  When 
the  Moor  saw  her  coming,  he  was  astonished,  and  springing 
with  his  horse  from  a  precipice,  was  dashed  to  pieces  !  The 
marks  of  his  horse's  hoofs,"  said  the  old  man,  "  are  to  be  seen 
in  the  margin  of  the  rock  to  this  day.  And  see,  senors,  yonder 
is  the  road  by  which  the  queen  and  her  army  mounted  :  you  see 
it  like  a  ribbon  up  the  mountain's  side;  but  the  miracle  is, 
that,  though  it  can  be  seen  at  a  distance,  when  you  come  near 
it  disappears ! " 

The  ideal  road  to  which  he  pointed  was  undoubtedly  a  sandy 
ravine  of  the  mountain,  which  looked  narrow  and  defined  at  a 
distance,  but  became  broad  and  indistinct  on  an  approach. 

As  the  old  man's  heart  warmed  with  wine  and  wassail,  he 
went  on  to  tell  us  a  story  of  the  buried  treasure  left  under  the 
castle  by  the  Moorish  king.  His  own  house  was  next  to  the 
foundations  of  the  castle.  The  curate  and  notary  dreamed 
three  times  of  the  treasure,  and  went  to  work  at  the  place 
pointed  out  in  their  dreams.  His  own  son-in-law  heard  the 
sound  of  their  pickaxes  and  spades  at  night.  What  they  found, 
nobody  knows ;  they  became  suddenly  rich,  but  kept  their  own 
secret.  Thus  the  old  man  had  once  been  next  door  to  fortune, 
but  was  doomed  never  to  get  under  the  same  roof. 

I  have  remarked  that  the  stories  of  treasure  buried  by  the 
Moors,  so  popular  throughout  Spain,  are  most  current  among 
the  poorest  people.  Kind  nature  consoles  with  shadows  for 
the  lack  of  substantiate.  The  thirsty  man  dreams  of  fountains 
and  running  streams ;  the  hungry  man  of  banquets ;  and  the 
poor  man  of  heaps  of  hidden  gold  :  nothing  certainly  is  more 
opulent  than  the  imagination  of  a  beggar. 

Our  afternoon's  ride  took  us  through  a  steep  and  rugged 
defile  of  the  mountains,  called  Puerte  del  Bey,  the  Pass  of  the 


22  THE    ALHAMBRA 

King;  being  one  of  the  great  passes  into  the  territories  of 
Granada,  and  the  one  by  which  King  Ferdinand  conducted  his 
army.  Towards  sunset  the  road,  winding  round  a  hill,  brought 
us  in  sight  of  the  famous  little  frontier  city  of  Loxa,  which 
repulsed  Ferdinand  from  its  walls.  Its  Arabic  name  implies 
guardian,  and  such  it  was  to  the  vega  of  Granada,  being  one 
of  its  advanced  guards.  It  was  the  stronghold  of  that  fiery 
veteran,  old  AH  Atar,  father-in-law  of  Boabdil;  and  here  it 
was  that  the  latter  collected  his  troops,  and  sallied  forth  on 
that  disastrous  foray  which  ended  in  the  death  of  the  old  al- 
cayde  and  his  own  captivity.  From  its  commanding  position 
at  the  gate,  as  it  were,  of  this  mountain-pass,  Loxa  has  not 
unaptly  been  termed  the  key  of  Granada.  It  is  wildly  pic 
turesque  ;  built  along  the  face  of  an  arid  mountain.  The 
ruins  of  a  Moorish  alcazar  or  citadel  crown  a  rocky  mound 
which  rises  out  of  the  centre  of  the  town.  The  river  Xenil 
washes  its  base,  winding  among  rocks,  and  groves,  and  gardens, 
and  meadows,  and  crossed  by  a  Moorish  bridge.  Above  the 
city  all  is  savage  and  sterile,  below  is  the  richest  vegetation 
and  the  freshest  verdure.  A  similar  contrast  is  presented  by 
the  river :  above  the  bridge  it  is  placid  and  grassy,  reflecting 
groves  and  gardens;  below  it  is  rapid,  noisy,  and  tumultuous. 
The  Sierra  Nevada,  the  royal  mountains  of  Granada,  crowned 
with  perpetual  snow,  form  the  distant  boundary  to  this  varied 
landscape,  one  of  the  most  characteristic  of  romantic  Spain. 

Alighting  at  the  entrance  of  the  city,  we  gave  our  horses  to 
Sancho  to  lead  them  to  the  inn,  while  we  strolled  about  to  en 
joy  the  singular  beauty  of  the  environs.  As  we  crossed  the 
bridge  to  a  fine  alameda,  or  public  walk,  the  bells  tolled  the 
hour  of  orison.  At  the  sound  the  wayfarers,  whether  on  busi 
ness  or  pleasure,  paused,  took  off  their  hats,  crossed  themselves, 
and  repeated  their  evening  prayer  :  a  pious  custom  still  rigidly 
observed  in  retired  parts  of  Spain.  Altogether  it  was  a  solemn 
and  beautiful  evening  scene,  and  we  wandered  on  as  the  even- 


THE    JOURNEY  23 

ing  gradually  closed,  and  the  new  moon  began  to  glitter  be 
tween  the  high  elms  of  the  alameda.  We  were  roused  from 
this  quiet  state  of  enjoyment  by  the  voice  of  our  trusty  squire 
hailing  us  from  a  distance.  He  came  up  to  us,  out  of  breath. 
"Ah,  senores,"  cried  he,  "  el  pobre  Sancho  no  es  nada  sin  Don 
Quixote."  (Ah,  senors,  poor  Sancho  is  nothing  without  Don 
Quixote.)  He  had  been  alarmed  at  our  not  coming  to  the 
inn ;  Loxa  was  such  a  wild  mountain  place,  full  of  contraban- 
distas,  enchanters,  and  infiernos;  he  did  not  well  know  what 
might  have  happened,  and  set  out  to  seek- us,  inquiring  after 
us  of  every  person  he  met,  until  he  traced  us  across  the  bridge, 
and,  to  his  great  joy,  caught  sight  of  us  strolling  in  the  alameda. 

The  inn  to  which  he  conducted  us  was  called  the  Corona, 
or  Crown,  and  we  found  it  quite  in  keeping  with  the  character 
of  the  place,  the  inhabitants  of  which  seem  still  to  retain  the 
bold,  fiery  spirit  of  the  olden  time.  The  hostess  was  a  young 
and  handsome  Andalusian  widow,  whose  trim  basquina  of  black 
silk,  fringed  with  bugles,  set  off  the  play  of  a  graceful  form  and 
round  pliant  limbs.  Her  step  wras  firm  and  elastic ;  her  dark 
eye  was  full  of  fire ;  and  the  coquetry  of  her  air,  and  varied 
ornaments  of  her  person,  showed  that  she  was  accustomed  to  be 
admired. 

She  was  well  matched  by  a  brother,  nearly  about  her  own 
age;  they  were  perfect  models  of  the  Andalusian  Majo  and 
Maja.  He  was  tall,  vigorous,  and  well-formed,  with  a  clear 
olive  complexion,  a  dark  beaming  eye,  and  curling  chestnut 
whiskers  that  met  under  his  chin.  He  was  gallantly  dressed 
in  a  short  green  velvet  jacket,  fitted  to  his  shape,  pro 
fusely  decorated  with  silver  buttons,  with  a  white  handkerchief 
in  each  pocket.  He  had  breeches  of  the  same,  with  rows  of 
buttons  from  the  hips  to  the  knees ;  a  pink  silk  handkerchief 
round  his  neck,  gathered  through  a  ring,  on  the  bosom  of  a 
neatly  plaited  shirt ;  a  sash  round  the  waist  to  match  ;  bottinas, 
or  spatterdashes,  of  the  finest  russet  leather,  elegantly  worked, 


24  THE   ALHAMBRA 

and  open  at  the  calf  to  show  his  stocking ;  and  russet  shoes, 
setting  off  a  wellrshaped  foot. 

As  he  was  standing  at  the  door,  a  horseman  rode  up  and 
entered  into  low  and  earnest  conversation  with  him.  He  was 
dressed  in  a  similar  style,  and  almost  with  equal  finery ;  a  man 
about  thirty,  square-built,  with  strong  Roman  features,  hand 
some,  though  slightly  pitted  with  the  small-pox;  with  a  free, 
bold,  and  somewhat  daring  air.  His  powerful  black  horse  was 
decorated  with  tassels  and  fanciful  trappings,  and  a  couple 
of  broad-mouthed  blunderbusses  hung  behind  the  saddle.  He 
had  the  air  of  one  of  those  *contrabandistas  I  have  seen  in  the 
mountains  of  Ronda,  and  evidently  had  a  good  understanding 
with  the  brother  of  mine  hostess ;  nay,  if  I  mistake  not,  he  was 
a  favored  admirer  of  the  widow.  In  fact,  the  whole  inn  and  its 
inmates  had  something  of  a  contrabandista  aspect,  and  a  blun 
derbuss  stood  in  a  corner  beside  the  guitar.  The  horseman 
I  have  mentioned  passed  his  evening  in  the  posada,  and  sang 
several  bold  mountain  romances  with  great  spirit.  As  we  were 
at  supper,  two  poor  Asturians  put  in,  in  distress,  begging  food 
and  a  night's  lodging.  They  had  been  waylaid  by  robbers  as 
they  came  from  a  fair  among  the  mountains,  robbed  of  a  horse 
which  carried  all  their  stock  in  trade,  stripped  of  their  money, 
and  most  of  their  apparel,  beaten  for  having  offered  resistance, 
and  left  almost  naked  in  the  road.  My  companion,  with  a 
prompt  generosity  natural  to  him,  ordered  them  a  supper  and 
a  bed,  and  gave  them  a  sum  of  money  to  help  them  forward 
towards  their  home. 

As  the  evening  advanced,  the  dramatis  personce  thickened. 
A  large  man,  about  sixty  years  of  age,  of  powerful  frame,  came 
strolling  in,  to  gossip  with  mine  hostess.  He  was  dressed  in 
the  ordinary  Andalusian  costume,  but  had  a  huge  sabre  tucked 
under  his  arm;  wore  large  mustaches,  and  had  something 
of  a  lofty  swaggering  air.  Every  one  seemed  to  regard  him 
with  great  deference. 


THE   JOURNEY  25 

Our  man  Sancho  whispered  to  us  that  he  was  Don  Ventura 
Rodriguez,  the  hero  and  champion  of  Loxa,  famous  for  his  prow 
ess  and  the  strength  of  his  arm.  In  the  time  of  the  French 
invasion  he  surprised  six  troopers  who  were  asleep;  he  first 
secured  their  horses,  then  attacked  them  with  his  sabre,  killed 
some,  and  took  the  rest  prisoners.  For  this  exploit  the  king 
allows  him  a  peseta  (the  fifth  of  a  duro,  or  dollar)  per  day,  and 
has  dignified  him  with  the  title  of  Don. 

I  was  amused  to  behold  his  swelling  language  and  demeanor. 
He  was  evidently  a  thorough  Andalusian,  boastful  as  brave. 
His  sabre  was  always  in  his  hand  or  under  his  arm.  He 
carries  it  always  about  with  him  as  a  child  does  its  doll,  calls  it 
his  Santa  Teresa,  and  says,  "When  I  draw  it,  the  earth 
trembles  "  (tiembla  la  tierra). 

I  sat  until  a  late  hour  listening  to  the  varied  themes  of  this 
motley  group,  who  mingled  together  with  the  unreserve  of  a 
Spanish  posada.  We  had  contrabandista  songs,  stories  of 
robbers,  guerrilla  exploits,  and  Moorish  legends.  The  last  were 
from  our  handsome  landlady,  who  gave  a  poetical  account  of  the 
Infiernos,  or  infernal  regions  of  Loxa,  —  dark  caverns,  in  which 
subterranean  streams  and  waterfalls  make  a  mysterious  sound. 
The  common  people  say  that  there  are  money-coiners  shut  up 
there  from  the  time  of  the  Moors ;  and  that  the  Moorish  kings 
kept  their  treasures  in  those  caverns. 

I  retired  to  bed  with  my  imagination  excited  by  all  that 
I  had  seen  and  heard  in  this  old  warrior  city.  Scarce  had  I 
fallen  asleep  when  I  was  aroused  by  a  horrid  din  and  uproar, 
that  might  have  confounded  the  hero  of  La  Mancha  himself, 
whose  experience  of  Spanish  inns  was  a  continual  uproar.  It 
seemed  for  a  moment  as  if  the  Moors  were  once  more  breaking 
into  the  town ;  or  the  infiernos  of  which  mine  hostess  talked  had 
broken  loose.  I  sallied  forth,  half  dressed,  to  reconnoitre.  It 
was  nothing  more  nor  less  than  a  charivari  to  celebrate  the 
nuptials  of  an  old  man  with  a  buxom  damsel.  Wishing  him 


26  THE    ALHAMBRA 

joy  of  his  bride  and  his  serenade,  I  returned  to  my  more  quiet 
bed,  and  slept  soundly  until  morning. 

While  dressing,  I  amused  myself  in  reconnoitring  the  populace 
from  my  window.  There  were  groups  of  fine-looking  young 
men  in  the  trim,  fanciful  Andalusian  costume,  with  brown 
cloaks,  thrown  about  them  in  true  Spanish  style,  which  cannot 
be  imitated,  and  little  round  majo  hats  stuck  on  with  a  peculiar 
knowing  air.  They  had  the  same  galliard  look  which  I  have 
remarked  among  the  dandy  mountaineers  of  Eonda.  Indeed, 
all  this  part  of  Andalusia  abounds  with  such  game-looking 
characters.  They  loiter  about  the  towns  and  villages ;  seem  to 
have  plenty  of  time  and  plenty  of  money ;  "  horse  to  ride  and 
weapon  to  wear."  Great  gossips,  great  smokers,  apt  at  touch 
ing  the  guitar,  singing  couplets  to  their  maja  belles,  and  famous 
dancers  of  the  bolero.  Throughout  all  Spain  the  men,  however 
poor,  have  a  gentlemanlike  abundance  of  leisure;  seeming  to 
consider  it  the  attribute  of  a  true  cavaliero  never  to  be  in  a 
hurry ;  but  the  Andalusians  are  gay  as  well  as  leisurely,  and 
have  none  of  the  squalid  accompaniments  of  idleness.  The  ad 
venturous  contraband  trade  which  prevails  throughout  these 
mountain  regions,  and  along  the  maritime  borders  of  Andalusia, 
is  doubtless  at  the  bottom  of  this  galliard  character. 

In  contrast  to  the  costume  of  these  groups  was  that  of  two 
long-legged  Valencians  conducting  a  donkey,  laden  with  articles 
of  merchandise ;  their  musket  slung  crosswise  over  his  back, 
ready  for  action.  They  wore  round  jackets  (jalecos),  wide  linen 
bragas  or  drawers  scarce  reaching  to  the  knees  and  looking  like 
kilts,  red  fajas  or  sashes  swathed  tightly  round  their  waists, 
sandals  of  espartal  or  bass  weed,  colored  kerchiefs  round  their 
heads  somewhat  in  the  style  of  turbans,  but  leaving  the  top  of 
the  head  uncovered ;  in  short,  their  whole  appearance  having 
much  of  the  traditional  Moorish  stamp. 

On  leaving  Loxa  we  were  joined  by  a  cavalier,  well  mounted 
and  well  armed,  and  followed  on  foot  by  an  escopetero  or  mus- 


THE   JOURNEY  27 

keteer.  He  saluted  us  courteously,  and  soon  let  us  into  his 
quality.  He  was  chief  of  the  customs,  or  rather,  I  should  sup 
pose,  chief  of  an  armed  company  whose  business  it  is  to  patrol 
the  roads  and  look  out  for  contrabandistas.  The  escopetero 
was  one  of  his  guards.  In  the  course  of  our  morning's  ride  I 
drew  from  him  some  particulars  concerning  the  smugglers,  who 
have  risen  to  be  a  kind  of  mongrel  chivalry  in  Spain.  They 
come  into  Andalusia,  he  said,  from  various  parts,  but  especially 
from  La  Mancha;  sometimes  to  receive  goods,  to  be  smuggled 
on  an  appointed  night  across  the  line  at  the  plaza  or  strand  of 
Gibraltar ;  sometimes  to  meet  a  vessel,,  which  is  to  hover  on  a 
given  night  off  a  certain  part  of  the  coast.  They  keep  together 
and  travel  in  the  night.  In  the  daytime  they  lie  quiet  in 
barrancos,  gullies  of  the  mountains,  or  lonely  farm-houses ; 
where  they  are  generally  well  received,  as  they  make  the  family 
liberal  presents  of  their  smuggled  wares.  Indeed,  much  of  the 
finery  and  trinkets  worn  by  the  wives  and  daughters  of  the 
mountain  hamlets  and  farm-houses  are  presents  from  the  gay 
and  open-handed  contrabandistas. 

Arrived  at  the  part  of  the  coast  where  a  vessel  is  to  meet 
them,  they  look  out  at  night  from  some  rocky  point  or  head 
land.  If  they  descry  a  sail  near  the  shore  they  make  a  con 
certed  signal;  sometimes  it  consists  in  suddenly  displaying  a 
lantern  three  times  from  beneath  the  folds  of  the  cloak.  If  the 
signal  is  answered,  they  descend  to  the  shore  and  prepare  for 
quick  work.  The  vessel  runs  close  in ;  all  her  boats  are  busy 
landing  the  smuggled  goods,  made  up  into  snug  packages  for 
transportation  on  horseback.  These  are  hastily  thrown  on  the 
beach,  as  hastily  gathered  up  and  packed  on  the  horses,  and 
then  the  contrabandistas  clatter  off  to  the  mountains.  They 
travel  by  the  roughest,  wildest,  and  most  solitary  roads,  where 
it  is  almost  fruitless  to  pursue  them.  The  custom-house  guards 
do  not  attempt  it :  they  take  a  different  course.  When  they 
hear  of  one  of  these  bands  returning  full  freighted  through  the 


28  THE    ALHAMBRA 

mountains,  they  go  out  in  force,  sometimes  twelve  infantry  and 
eight  horsemen,  and  take  their  station  where  the  mountain  de 
file  opens  into  the  plain.  The  infantry,  who  lie  in  ambush 
some  distance  within  the  defile,  suffer  the  band  to  pass,  then 
rise  and  fire  upon  them.  The  contrabandistas  dash  forward, 
but  are  met  in  front  by  the  horsemen.  A  wild  skirmish  en 
sues.  The  contrabandistas,  if  hard  pressed,  become  desperate. 
Some  dismount,  use  their  horses  as  breastworks,  and  fire  over 
their  backs ;  others  cut  the  cords,  let  the  packs  fall  off  to  delay 
the  enemy,  and  endeavor  to  escape  with  their  steeds.  Some  get 
off  in  this  way  with  the  loss  of  their  package ;  some  are  taken, 
horses,  packages,  and  all;  others  abandon  everything,  and  make 
their  escape  by  scrambling  up  the  mountains.  "  And  then,"  cried 
Sancho,  who  had  been  listening  with  a  greedy  ear,  "  se  hacen  la- 
drones  legitimos"  — and  then  they  become  legitimate  robbers. 

I  could  not  help  laughing  at  Sancho's  idea  of  a  legitimate 
calling  of  the  kind ;  but  the  chief  of  customs  told  me  it  was 
really  the  case  that  the  smugglers,  when  thus  reduced  to  ex 
tremity,  thought  they  had  a  kind  of  right  to  take  the  road,  and 
lay  travellers  under  contribution,  until  they  had  collected  funds 
enough  to  mount  and  equip  themselves  in  contrabandista  style. 

Towards  noon  our  wayfaring  companion  took  leave  of  us  and 
turned  up  a  steep  defile,  followed  by  his  escopetero ;  and  shortly 
afterwards  we  emerged  from  the  mountains,  and  entered  upon 
the  far-famed  Vega  of  Granada. 

Our  last  mid-day's  repast  was  taken  under  a  grove  of  olive- 
trees  on  the  border  of.  a  rivulet.  We  were  in  a  classical  neigh 
borhood  ;  for  not  far  off  were  the  groves  and  orchards  of  the 
Soto  de  Roma.  This,  according  to  fabulous  tradition,  was  a  re 
treat  founded  by  Count  Julian  to  console  his  daughter  Florinda. 
It  was  a  rural  resort  of  the  Moorish  kings  of  Granada  ;  and  has 
in  modern  times  been  granted  to  the  Duke  of  Wellington. 

Our  worthy  squire  made  a  half  melancholy  face  as  he  drew 
forth,  for  the  last  time,  the  contents  of  his  alforjas,  lamenting 


THE    JOURNEY  29 

that  our  expedition  was  drawing  to  a  close,  for,  with  such  cava 
liers,  he  said,  he  could  travel  to  the  world's  end.  Our  repast, 
however,  was  a  gay  one ;  made  under  such  delightful  auspices. 
The  day  was  without  a  cloud.  The  heat  of  the  sun  was  tem 
pered  by  cool  breezes  from  the  mountains.  Before  us  extended 
the  glorious  Vega.  In  the  distance  was  romantic  Granada  sur 
mounted  by  the  ruddy  towers  of  the  Alhambra,  while  far  above 
it  the  snowy  summits  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  shone  like  silver. 

Our  repast  finished,  we  spread  our  cloaks  and  took  our  last 
siesta  al  fresco,  lulled  by  the  humming  of  bees  among  the  flowers 
and  the  notes  of  doves  among  the  olive-trees.  When  the  sultry 
hours  were  passed  we  resumed  our  journey.  After  a  time  we 
overtook  a  pursy  little  man,  shaped  not  unlike  a  toad  and 
mounted  on  a  mule.  He  fell  into  conversation  with  Sancho, 
and  finding  we  were  strangers,  undertook  to  guide  us  to  a  good 
posada.  He  was  an  escribano  (notary),  he  said,  and  knew  the 
city  as  thoroughly  as  his  own  pocket.  "Ah  Dios,  Senores  !  what 
a  city  you  are  going  to  see.  Such  streets  !  such  squares  !  such 
palaces  !  and  then  the  women  —  ah  Santa  Maria  purisima — 
what  women  !" —  "But  the  posada  you  talk  of,"  said  I,  "are 
you  sure  it  is  a  good  one  ? " 

"  Good  !  Santa  Maria !  the  best  in  Granada.  Salones  grandes 
—  camas  de  luxo  —  colchones  de  pluma  (grand  saloons  —  luxu 
rious  sleeping-rooms  —  beds  of  down).  Ah,  senores,  you  will 
fare  like  King  Chico  in  the  Alhambra." 

"  And  how  will  my  horses  fare  1 "  cried  Sancho. 

"Like  King  Chico's  horses.  Chocolate  con  leche  y  bollos 
para  almuerza  "  (chocolate  and  milk  with  sugar  cakes  for  break 
fast),  giving  the  squire  a  knowing  wink  and  a  leer. 

After  such  satisfactory  accounts,  nothing  more  was  to  be  de 
sired  on  that  head.  So  we  rode  quietly  on,  the  squab  little 
notary  taking  the  lead,  and  turning  to  us  every  moment  with 
some  fresh  exclamation  about  the  grandeurs  of  Granada  and 
the  famous  times  we  were  to  have  at  the  posada. 


30  THE    ALHAMBRA 

Thus  escorted,  we  passed  between  hedges  of  aloes  and  Indian 
figs,  and  through  that  wilderness  of  gardens  with  which  the 
vega  is  embroidered,  and  arrived  about  sunset  at  the  gates  of 
the  city.  Our  officious  little  conductor  conveyed  us  up  one 
street  and  down  another,  until  he  rode  into  the  court- yard  of  an 
inn  where  he  appeared  to  be  perfectly  at  home.  Summoning 
the  landlord  by  his  Christian  name,  he  committed  us  to  his  care 
as  two  cavalleros  de  mucho  valor,  worthy  of  his  best  apartments 
and  most  sumptuous  fare.  We  were  instantly  reminded  of  the 
patronizing  stranger  who  introduced  Gil  Bias  with  such  a  flour 
ish  of  trumpets  to  the  host  and  hostess  of  the  inn  at  Pennaflor, 
ordering  trouts  for  his  supper,  and  eating  voraciously  at  his  ex 
pense.  "You  know  not  what  you  possess,"  cried  he  to  the  inn 
keeper  and  his  wife.  "  You  have  a  treasure  in  your  house. 
Behold  in  this  young  gentleman  the  eighth  wonder  of  the 
world  —  nothing  in  this  house  is  too  good  for  Sen  or  Gil 
Bias  of  Santillane,  who  deserves  to  be  entertained  like  a 
prince." 

Determined  that  the  little  notary  should  not  eat  trouts  at 
our  expense,  like  his  prototype  of  Pennaflor,  we  forbore  to  ask 
him  to  supper ;  nor  had  we  reason  to  reproach  ourselves  with 
ingratitude,  for  we  found  before  morning  the  little  variety  who 
was  no  doubt  a  good  friend  of  the  landlord,  had  decoyed  us  into 
one  of  the  shabbiest  posadas  in  Granada. 

1  Note  to  the  Revised  Edition.  —  The  Author  feels  at  liberty  to 
mention  that  his  travelling  companion  was  the  Prince  Dolgorouki, 
at  present  Russian  minister  at  the  Court  of  Persia. 

2  It  may  be  as  well  to  note  here,  that  the  alforjas  are  square 
pockets  at  each  end  of  a  long  cloth  about  a  foot  and  a  half  wide, 
formed  by  turning  up  its  extremities.  The  cloth  is  then  thrown 
over  the  saddle,  and  the  pockets  hang  on  each  side  like  saddle 
bags.  It  is  an  Arab  invention.  The  bota  is  a  leathern  bag  or 
bottle,  of  portly  dimensions,  with  a  narrow  neck.  It  is  also 
Oriental.  Hence  the  scriptural  caution  which  perplexed  me  in  my 
boyhood,  not  to  put  new  wine  into  old  bottles. 


PALACE    OF    THE   ALHAMBRA  31 


PALACE   OF   THE   ALHAMBRA 

To  the  traveller  imbued  with  a  feeling  for  the  historical  and 
poetical,  so  inseparably  intertwined  in  the  annals  of  romantic 
Spain,  the  Alhambra  is  as  much  an  object  of  devotion  as  is  the 
Caaba  to  all  true  Moslems.  How  many  legends  and  traditions, 
true  and  fabulous,  —  how  many  songs  and  ballads,  Arabian  and 
'Spanish,  of  love  and  war  and  chivalry,  are  associated  with  this 
Oriental  pile !  It  was  the  royal  abode  of  the  Moorish  kings, 
where,  surrounded  with  the  splendors  and  refinements  of  Asiatic 
luxury,  they  held  dominion  over  what  they  vaunted  as  a  terres 
trial  paradise,  and  made  their  last  stand  for  empire  in  Spain. 
The  royal  palace  forms  but  a  part  of  a  fortress,  the  walls  of 
which,  studded  with  towers,  stretch  irregularly  round  the  whole 
crest  of  a  hill,  a  spur  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  or  Snowy  Moun 
tains,  and  overlook  the  city ;  externally  it  is  a  rude  congregation 
of  towers  and  battlements,  with  no  regularity  of  plan  nor  grace 
of  architecture,  and  giving  little  promise  of  the  grace  and  beauty 
which  prevail  within. 

In  the  time  of  the  Moors  the  fortress  was  capable  of  contain 
ing  within  its  outward  precincts  an  army  of  forty  thousand  men, 
and  served  occasionally  as-  a  strong-hold  of  the  sovereigns  against 
their  rebellious  subjects.  After  the  kingdom  had  passed  into 
the  hands  of  the  Christians,  the  Alhambra  continued  to  be  a 
royal  demesne,  and  was  occasionally  inhabited  by  the  Castilian 
monarchs.  The  emperor  Charles  V.  commenced  a  sumptuous 
palace  within  its  walls,  but  was  deterred  from  completing  it  by 
repeated  shocks  of  earthquakes.  The  last  royal  residents  were 
Philip  V.  and  his  beautiful  queen,  Elizabetta  of  Parma,  early  in 
the  eighteenth  century.  Great  preparations  were  made  for  .their 
reception.  The  palace  and  gardens  were  placed  in  a  state  of 
repair,  and  a  new  suite  of  apartments  erected,  and  decorated  by 
artists  brought  from  Italy.  The  sojourn  of  the  sovereigns  was 


32  THE   ALHAMBRA 

transient,  and  after  their  departure  the  palace  once  more  became 
desolate.  Still  the  place  was  maintained  with  some  military 
state.  The  governor  held  it  immediately  from  the  crown,  its 
jurisdiction  extended  down  into  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  and  was 
independent  of  the  captain-general  of  Granada.  A  considerable 
garrison  was  kept  up ;  the  governor  had  his  apartments  in  the 
front  of  the  old  Moorish  palace,  and  never  descended  into  Gran 
ada  without  some  military  parade.  The  fortress,  in  fact,  was  a 
little  town  of  itself,  having  several  streets  of  houses  within  its 
walls,  together  with  a  Franciscan  convent  and  a  parochial  church. 
The  desertion  of  the  court,  however,  was  a  fatal  blow  to  the 
Alhambra.  Its  beautiful  halls  became  desolate  and  some  of  them 
fell  to  ruin;  the  gardens  were  destroyed,  and  the  fountains 
ceased  to  play.  By  degrees  the  dwellings  became  filled  with  a 
loose  and  lawless  population :  contrabandistas,  who  availed 
themselves  of  its  independent  jurisdiction  to  carry  on  a  wide 
and  daring  course  of  smuggling,  and  thieves  and  rogues  of  all 
sorts,  who  made  this  their  place  of  refuge  whence  they  might 
depredate  upon  Granada  and  its  vicinity.  The  strong  arm  of 
government  at  length  interfered ;  the  whole  community  was 
thoroughly  sifted ;  none  were  suffered  to  remain  but  such  as 
were  of  honest  character,  and  had  legitimate  right  to  a  resi 
dence  ;  the  greater  part  of  the  houses  were  demolished  and  a 
mere  hamlet  left,  with  the  parochial  church  and  the  Franciscan 
convent.  During  the  recent  troubles  in  Spain,  when  Granada 
was  in  the  hands  of  the  French,  the  Alhambra  was  garrisoned 
by  their  troops,  and  the  palace  was  occasionally  inhabited  by 
the  French  commander.  With  that  enlightened  taste  which 
has  ever  distinguished  the  French  nation  in  their  conquests, 
this  monument  of  Moorish  elegance  and  grandeur  was  rescued 
from,  the  absolute  ruin  and  desolation  that  were  overwhelming 
it.  The  roofs  were  repaired,  the  saloons  and  galleries  protected 
from  the  weather,  the  gardens  cultivated,  the  watercourses  re 
stored,  the  fountains  once  more  made  to  throw  up  their  spark- 


REPAIRS    OF    THE    PALACE  33 

ling  showers;  and  Spain  may  thank  her  invaders  for  having 
preserved  to  her  the  most  beautiful  and  interesting  of  her 
historical  monuments. 

On  the  departure  of  the  French  they  blew  up  several  towers 
of  the  outer  wall,  and  left  the  fortifications  scarcely  tenable. 
Since  that  time  the  military  importance  of  the  post  is  at  an 
end.  The  garrison  is  a  handful  of  invalid  soldiers,  whose 
principal  duty  is  to  guard  some  of  the  outer  towers,  which 
serve  occasionally  as  a  prison  of  state ;  and  the  governor, 
abandoning  the  lofty  hill  of  the  Alhambra,  resides  in  the  centre 
of  Granada,  for  the  more  convenient  dispatch  of  his  official 
duties.  I  cannot  conclude  this  brief  notice  of  the  state  of  the 
fortress  without  bearing  testimony  to  the  honorable  exertions 
of  its  present  commander,  Don  Francisco  de  Serna,  who  is 
tasking  all  the  limited  resources  at  his  command  to  put  the 
palace  in  a  state  of  repair,  and  by  his  judicious  precautions 
has  for  some  time  arrested  its  too  certain  decay.  Had  his 
predecessors  discharged  the  duties  of  their  station  with  equal 
fidelity,  the  Alhambra  might  yet  have  remained  in  almost  its 
pristine  beauty  :  were  government  to  second  him  with  means 
equal  to  his  zeal,  this  relic  of  it  might  still  be  preserved  for 
many  generations  to  adorn  the  land,  and  attract  the  curious 
and  enlightened  of  every  clime. 

Our  first  object  of  course,  on  the  morning  after  our  arrival, 
was  a  visit  to  this  time-honored  edifice ;  it  has  been  so  often, 
however,  and  so  minutely  described  by  travellers,  that  I  shall 
not  undertake  to  give  a  comprehensive  and  elaborate  account 
of  it,  but  merely  occasional  sketches  of  parts,  with  the  inci 
dents  and  associations  connected  with  them. 

Leaving  our  posada,  and  traversing  the  renowned  square  of 
the  Vivarrambla,  once  the  scene  of  Moorish  jousts  and  tourna 
ments,  now  a  crowded  market-place,  we  proceeded  along  the 
Zacatin,  the  main  street  of  what,  in  the  time  of  the  Moors 
was  the  Great   Bazaar,  and  where  small   shops  and   narrow 


34  THE    ALHAMBRA 

alleys  still  retain  the  Oriental  character.  Crossing  an  open 
place  in  front  of  the  palace  of  the  captain-general,  we  ascended 
a  confined  and  winding  street,  the  name  of  which  reminded  us 
of  the  chivalric  days  of  Granada.  It  is  called  the  Calle,  or 
street,  of  the  Gomeres,  from  a  Moorish  family  famous  in  chron 
icle  and  song.  This  street  led  up  to  the  Puerta  de  las  Grana- 
das,  a  massive  gateway  of  Grecian  architecture,  built  by 
Charles  V.,  forming  the  entrance  to  the  domains  of  the  Al- 
hambra. 

At  the  gate  were  two  or  three  ragged  superannuated  sol 
diers,  dozing  on  a  stone  bench,  the  successors  of  the  Zegris  and 
the  Abencerrages ;  while  a  tall,  meagre  varlet,  whose  rusty- 
brown  cloak  was  evidently  intended  to  conceal  the  ragged 
state  of  his  nether  garment,  was  lounging  in  the  sunshine  and 
gossiping  with  an  ancient  sentinel  on  duty.  He  joined  us  as 
we  entered  the  gate,  and  offered  his  services  to  show  us  the 
fortress. 

I  have  a  traveller's  dislike  to  officious  ciceroni,  and  did  not 
altogether  like  the  garb  of  the  applicant. 

"  You  are  well  acquainted  with  the  place,  I  presume  ? " 

"  Ninguno,  mas  ;  pues>  senor,  soy  hijo  de  la  Alhambra" — 
(Nobody  better ;  in  fact,  sir,  I  am.  a  son  of  the  Alhambra  !) 

The  common  Spaniards  have  certainly  a  most  poetical  way 
of  expressing  themselves.  "A  son  of  the  Alhambra!"  the 
appellation  caught  me  at  once ;  the  very  tattered  garb  of  my 
new  acquaintance  assumed  a  dignity  in  my  eyes.  It  was  em 
blematic  of  the  fortunes  of  the  place,  and  befitted  the  progeny 
of  a  ruin. 

I  put  some  further  questions  to  him,  and  found  that  his 
title  was  legitimate.  His  family  had  lived  in  the  fortress 
from  generation  to  generation  ever  since  the  time  of  the  Con 
quest.  His  name  was  Mateo  Ximenes.  "Then,  perhaps," 
said  I,  "you  may  be  a  descendant  from  the  great  Cardinal 
Ximenes  1 "  —  "  Dios  sabe  !  God  knows,  Senor  !  It  may  be 


MOORISH    TALISMANS  35 

so.  We  are  the  oldest  family  in  the  Alhambra,  —  Christianas 
Viejos,  Old  Christians,  without  any  taint  of  Moor  or  Jew.  I 
know  we  belong  to  some  great  family  or  other,  but  I  forget 
whom.  My  father  knows  all  about  it :  he  has  the  coat  of 
arms  hanging  up  in  his  cottage,  up  in  the  fortress."  There 
is  not  any  Spaniard,  however  poor,  but  has  some  claim  to  high 
pedigree.  The  first  title  of  this  ragged  worthy,  however,  had 
completely  captivated  me;  so  I  gladly  accepted  the  services  of 
the  "son  of  the  Alhambra." 

We  now  found  ourselves  in  a  deep  narrow  ravine,  filled  with 
beautiful  groves,  with  a  steep  avenue,  and  various  footpaths 
winding  through  it,  bordered  with  stone  seats,  and  ornamented 
with  fountains.  To  our  left  we  beheld  the  towers  of  the  Al 
hambra  beetling  above  us  ;  to  our  right,  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  ravine,  we  were  equally  dominated  by  rival  towers  on  a 
rocky  eminence.  These,  we  were  told,  were  the  Torres  Verme- 
jos,  or  vermilion  towers,  so  called  from  their  ruddy  hue.  No 
one  knows  their  origin.  They  are  of  a  date  much  anterior  to 
the  Alhambra :  some  suppose  them  to  have  been  built  by  the 
Romans ;  others,  by  some  wandering  colony  of  Phoenicians. 
Ascending  the  steep  and  shady  avenue,  we  arrived  at  the  foot 
of  a  huge  square  Moorish  tower,  forming  a  kind  of  barbican, 
through  which  passed  the  main  entrance  to  the  fortress. 
Within  the  barbican  was  another  group  of  veteran  invalids, 
,one  mounting  guard  at  the  portal,  while  the  rest,  wrapped  in 
their  tattered  cloaks,  slept  on  the  stone  benches.  This  portal 
is  called  the  Gate  of  Justice,  from  the  tribunal  held  within  its 
porch  during  the  Moslem  domination,  for  the  immediate  trial 
of  petty  causes  :  a  custom  common  to  the  Oriental  nations, 
and  occasionally  alluded  to  in  the  Sacred  Scriptures.  "Judges 
arid  officers  shalt  thou  make  thee  in  all  thy  gates,  and  they 
shall  judge  the  people  with  just  judgment." 

The  great  vestibule,  or  porch  of  the  gate,  is  formed  by  an 
immense  Arabian  arch,  of  the  horseshoe  form,  which  springs 


36  THE   ALHAMBEA 

to  half  the  height  of  the  tower.  On  the  keystone  of  this 
arch  is  engraven  a  gigantic  hand.  Within  the  vestibule,  on 
the  keystone  of  the  portal,  is  sculptured,  in  like  manner,  a 
gigantic  key.  Those  who  pretend  to  some  knowledge  of 
Mohammedan  symbols,  affirm  that  the  hand  is  the  emblem  of 
doctrine ;  the  five  fingers  designating  the  five  principal  com 
mandments  of  the  creed  of  Islam,  fasting,  pilgrimage,  alms 
giving,  ablution,  and  war  against  infidels.  The  key,  say  they, 
is  the  emblem  of  the  faith  or  of  power ;  the  key  of  Daoud,  or 
David,  transmitted  to  the  prophet.  "  And  the  key  of  the 
house  of  David  will  I  lay  upon  his  shoulder ;  so  he  shall  open 
and  none  shall  shut,  and  he  shall  shut  and  none  shall  open." 
(Isaiah  xxii.  22).  The  key  we  are  told  was  emblazoned  on 
the  standard  of  the  Moslems  in  opposition  to  the  Christian 
emblem  of  the  cross,  when  they  subdued  Spain  or  Andalusia. 
It  betokened  the  conquering  power  invested  in  the  prophet. 
"  He  that  hath  the  key  of  David,  he  that  openeth  and  no 
man  shutteth ;  and  shutteth  and  no  man  openeth."  (Rev. 
iii.  7.) 

A  different  explanation  of  these  emblems,  however,  was 
given  by  the  legitimate  son  of  the  Alhambra,  and  one  more 
in  unison  with  the  notions  of  the  common  people,  who  attach 
something  of  mystery  and  magic  to  everything  Moorish,  and 
have  all  kinds  of  superstitions  connected  with  this  old  Moslem 
fortress.  According  to  Mateo,  it  was  a  tradition  handed  down 
from  the  oldest  inhabitants,  and  which  he  had  from  his  father 
and  grandfather,  that  the  hand  and  key  were  magical  devices 
on  which  the  fate  of  the  Alhambra  depended.  The  Moorish 
king  who  built  it  was  a  great  magician,  or,  as  some  believed, 
had  sold  himself  to  the  devil,  and  had  laid  the  whole  fortress 
under  a  magic  spell.  By  this  means  it  had  remained  standing 
for  several  years,  in  defiance  of  storms  and  earthquakes,  while 
almost  all  other  buildings  of  the  Moors  had  fallen  to  ruin  and 
disappeared.  This  spell,  the  tradition  went  on  to  say,  would 


MOORISH   TALISMANS  37 

last  until  the  hand  on  the  outer  arch  should  reach  down  and 
grasp  the  key,  when  the  whole  pile  would  tumble  to  pieces,  and 
all  the  treasures  buried  beneath  it  by  the  Moors  would  be 
revealed. 

Notwithstanding  this  onunaus  prediction,  we  ventured  to 
pass  through  the  spell-bound  gateway,  feeling  some  little  as 
surance  against  magic  art  in  the  protection  of  the  Virgin,  a 
statue  of  whom  we  observed  above  the  portal. 

After  passing  through  the  barbican,  we  ascended  a  narrow 
lane,  winding  between  walls,  and  came  on  an  open  esplanade 
within  the  fortress,  called  the  Plaza  de  los  Algibes,  or  Place 
of  the  Cisterns,  from  great  reservoirs  which  undermine  it,  cut 
in  the  living  rock  by  the  Moors  to  receive  the  water  brought  by 
conduits  from  the  Darrow,  for  the  supply  of  the  fortress.  Here, 
also,  is  a  well  of  immense  depth,  furnishing  the  purest  and 
coldest  of  water,  —  another  monument  of  the  delicate  taste  of 
the  Moors,  who  were  indefatigable  in  their  exertions  to  obtain 
that  element  in  its  crystal  purity. 

In  front  of  this  esplanade  is  the  splendid  pile  commenced  by 
Charles  V.,  and  intended,  it  is  said,  to  eclipse  the  residence  of 
the  Moorish  kings.  Much  of  the  Oriental  edifice  intended  for 
the  winter  season  was  demolished  to  make  way  for  this  massive 
pile.  The  grand  entrance  was  blocked  up ;  so  that  the  present 
entrance  to  the  Moorish  palace  is  through  a  simple  and  almost 
humble  portal  in  a  corner.  With  all  the  massive  grandeur  and 
architectural  merit  of  the  palace  of  Charles  V.,  we  regarded  it 
as  an  arrogant  intruder,  and  passing  by  it  with  a  feeling  almost 
of  scorn,  rang  at  the  Moslem  portal. 

While  waiting  for  admittance,  our  self-imposed  cicerone, 
Mateo  Ximenes,  informed  us  that  the  royal  palace  was  intrusted 
to  the  care  of  a  worthy  old  maiden  dame  called  Dona  Antonia- 
Molina,  but  who,  according  to  Spanish  custom,  went  by  the 
more  neighborly  appellation  of  Tia  Antonia  (Aunt  Antonia),  who 
maintained  the  Moorish  halls  and  gardens  in  order  and  showed 


38  THE    ALHAMBRA 

them  to  strangers.  While  we  were  talking,  the  door  was  opened 
by  a  plump  little  black  eyed  Andalusian  damsel,  whom  Mateo 
addressed  as  Dolores,  but  who  from  her  bright  looks  and  cheerful 
disposition  evidently  merited  a  merrier  name.  Mateo  informed 
me  in  a  whisper  that  she  was  the  niece  of  Tia  Antonia,  and 
I  found  she  was  the  good  fairy  who  was  to  conduct  us 
through  the  enchanted  palace.  Under  her  guidance  we  crossed 
the  threshold,  and  were  at  once  transported,  as  if  by  magic 
wand,  into  other  times  and  an  oriental  realm,  and  were  tread 
ing  the  scenes  of  Arabian  story.  Nothing  could  be  in  greater 
contrast  than  the  unpromising  exterior  of  the  pile  with  the 
scene  now  before  us.  We  found  ourselves  in  a  vast  patio  or 
court,  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  length,  and  upwards  of 
eighty  feet  in  breadth,  paved  with  white  marble,  and  decorated 
at  each  end  with  light  Moorish  peristyles,  one  of  which  sup 
ported  an  elegant  gallery  of  fretted  architecture.  Along  the 
mouldings  of  the  cornices  and  on  various  parts  of  the  walls  were 
escutcheons  and  ciphers,  and  Cufic  and  Arabic  characters  in  high 
relief,  repeating  the  pious  mottoes  of  the  Moslem  monarchs,  the 
builders  of  the  Alhambra,  or  extolling  their  grandeur  and  muni 
ficence.  Along  the  centre  of  the  court  extended  an  immense 
basin  or  tank  (estanque),  a  hundred  and  twenty-four  feet  in 
length,  twenty-seven  in  breadth,  and  five  in  depth,  receiving  its 
water  from  two  marble  vases.  Hence  it  is  called  the  Court  of 
the  Alberc'a  (from  al  Beerkah,  the  Arabic  for  a  pond  or  tank). 
Great  numbers  of  gold-fish  were  to  be  seen  gleaming  through 
the  waters  of  the  basin,  and  it  was  bordered  by  hedges  of  roses. 
Passing  from  the  Court  of  the  Alberca  under  a  Moorish 
archway,  we  entered  the  renowned  Court  of  Lions.  No  part 
of  the  edifice  gives  a  more  complete  idea  of  its  original  beauty 
than  this,  for  none  has  suffered  so  little  from  the  ravages  of 
time.  In  the  centre  stands  the  fountain  famous  in  song  and 
story.  The  alabaster  basins  still  shed  their  diamond  drops ; 
the  twelve  lions  which  support  them,  and  give  the  court  its 


INTERIOR    OF    THE    PALACE  39 

name,  still  cast  forth  crystal  streams  as  in  the  days  of  Boabdil. 
The  lions,  however,  are  unworthy  of  their  fame,  being  of  misera 
ble  sculpture,  the  work  probably  of  some  Christian  captive. 
The  court  is  laid  out  in  flower-beds,  instead  of  its  ancient  and 
appropriate  pavement  of  tiles  or  marble ;  the  alteration,  an 
instance  of  bad  taste,  was  made  by  the  French  when  in  posses 
sion  of  Granada.  Bound  the  four  sides  of  the  court  are  light 
Arabian  arcades  of  open  filigree  work,  supported  by  slender 
pillars  of  white  marble,  which  it  is  supposed  were  originally 
gilded.  The  architecture,  like  that  in  most  parts  of  the  interior 
of  the  palace,  is  characterized  by  elegance  rather  than  grandeur, 
bespeaking  a  delicate  and  graceful  taste,  and  a  disposition  to 
indolent  enjoyment.  When  one  looks  upon  the  fairy  traces  of 
the  peristyles,  and  the  apparently  fragile  fretwork  of  the  walls, 
it  is  difficult  to  believe  that  so  much  has  survived  the  wear  and 
tear  of  centuries,  the  shocks  of  earthquakes,  the  violence  of 
war,  and  the  quiet,  though  no  less  baneful,  pilferings  of  the 
tasteful  traveller :  it  is  almost  sufficient  to  excuse  the  popular 
tradition,  that  the  whole  is  protected  by  a  magic  charm. 

On  one  side  of  the"  court  a  rich  portal  opens  into  the  Hall  of 
the  Abencerrages :  so  called  from  the  gallant  cavaliers  of  that 
illustrious  line  who  were  here  perfidiously  massacred.  There 
are  some  who  doubt  the  whole  story,  but  our  humble  cicerone 
Mateo  pointed  out  the  very  wicket  of  the  portal  through  which 
they  were  introduced  one  by  one  into  the  Court  of  Lions,  and 
the  white  marble  fountain  in  the  centre  of  the  hall  beside  which 
they  were  beheaded.  He  showed  us  also  certain  broad  ruddy 
stains  on  the  pavement,  traces  of  their  blood,  which,  according 
to  popular  belief,  can  never  be  effaced. 

Finding  we  listened  to  him  apparently  with  easy  faith,  he 
added,  that  there  was  often  heard  at  night,  in  the  Court  of  Lions, 
a  low  confused  sound,  resembling  the  murmuring  of  a  multi 
tude,  and  now  and  then  a  faint  tinkling,  like  the  distant  clank 
of  chains.  These  sounds  were  made  by  the  spirits  of  the  mur- 


40  THE    ALHAMBRA 

dered  Abencerrages ;  who  nightly  haunt  the  scene  of  their  suf 
fering  and  invoke  the  vengeance  of  Heaven  on  their  destroyer. 

The  sounds  in  question  had  no  doubt  been  produced,  as  I  had 
afterwards  an  opportunity  of  ascertaining,  by  the  bubbling  cur 
rents  and  tinkling  falls  of  water  conducted  under  the  pavement 
through  pipes  and  channels  to  supply  the  fountains ;  but  I  was 
too  considerate  to  intimate  such  an  idea  to  the  humble  chroni 
cler  of  the  Alhambra. 

Encouraged  by  my  easy  credulity,  Mateo  gave  me  the  follow 
ing  as  an  undoubted  fact,  which  he  had  from  his  grandfather:  — 

There  was  once  an  invalid  soldier,  who  had  charge  of  the 
Alhambra  to  show  it  to  strangers;  as  he  was  one  evening, 
about  twilight,  passing  through  the  court  of  the  Lions,  he  heard 
footsteps  on  the  Hall  of  the  Abencerrages;  supposing  some 
strangers  to  be  lingering  there,  he  advanced  to  attend  upon 
them,  when,  to  his  astonishment,  he  beheld  four  Moors  richly 
dressed,  with  gilded  cuirasses  and  cimeters,  and  poniards  glit 
tering  with  precious  stones.  They  were  walking  to  and  fro, 
with  solemn  pace ;  but  paused  and  beckoned  to  him.  The  old 
soldier,  however,  took  to  flight,  and  could  never  afterwards  be 
prevailed  upon  to  enter  the  Alhambra.  Thus  it  is  that  men 
sometimes  turn  their  backs  upon  fortune;  for  it  is  the  firm 
opinion  of  Mateo,  that  the  Moors  intended  to  reveal  the  place 
where  their  treasures  lay  buried.  A  successor  to  the  invalid 
soldier  was  more  knowing ;  he  came  to  the  Alhambra  poor  ;  but 
at  the  end  of  a  year  went  off  to  Malaga,  bought  houses,  set  up 
a  carriage,  and  still  lives  there,  one  of  the  richest  as  well  as 
oldest  men  of  the  place ;  all  which,  Mateo  sagely  surmised,  was 
in  consequence  of  his  finding  out  the  golden  secret  of  these 
phantom  Moors. 

I  now  perceived  I  had  made  an  invaluable  acquaintance  in 
this  son  of  the  Alhambra,  one  who  knew  all  the  apocryphal 
history  of  the  place,  and  firmly  believed  in  it,  and  whose  memory 
was  stuffed  with  a  kind  of  knowledge  for  which  I  have  a  lurking 


HALL    OF    THE    TWO    SISTERS  41 

fancy,  but  which  is  too  apt  to  be  considered  rubbish  by  less  in 
dulgent  philosophers.  I  determined  to  cultivate  the  acquaint 
ance  of  this  learned  Theban. 

Immediately  opposite  the  Hall  of  the  Abencerrages,  a  portal, 
richly  adorned,  leads  into  a  hall  of  less  tragical  associations.  It 
is  light  and  lofty,  exquisitely  graceful  in  its  architecture,  paved 
with  white  marble,  and  bears  the  suggestive  name  of  the  Hall 
of  the  Two  Sisters.  Some  destroy  the  romance  of  the  name 
by  attributing  it  to  two  enormous  slabs  of  alabaster  which  lie 
side  by  side,  and  form  a  great  part  of  the  pavement :  an  opinion 
strongly  supported  by  Mateo  Ximenes.  Others  are  disposed  to 
give  the  name  a  more  poetical  significance,  as  the  vague  memo 
rial  of  Moorish  beauties  who  once  graced  this  hall,  which  was 
evidently  a  part  of  the  royal  harem.  This  opinion  I  was  happy 
to  find  entertained  by  our  little  bright-eyed  guide,  Dolores,  who 
pointed  to  a  balcony  over  an  inner  porch,  which  gallery,  she 
had  been  told,  belonged  to  the  women's  apartment.  "  You  see, 
senor,"  said  she,  "it  is  all  grated  and  latticed,  like  the  gallery 
in  a  convent  chapel  where  the  nuns  hear  mass ;  for  the  Moorish 
kings,"  added  she,  indignantly,  ushut  up  their  wives  just  like 
nuns." 

The  latticed  "jalousies,"  in  fact,  still  remain,  whence  the 
dark-eyed  beauties  of  the  harem  might  gaze  unseen  upon  the 
zambras  and  other  dances  and  entertainments  of  the  hall  below. 

On  each  side  of  this  hall  are  recesses  or  alcoves  for  ottomans 
and  couches,  on  which  the  voluptuous  lords  of  the  Alhambra 
indulged  in  that  dreamy  repose  so  dear  to  the  Orientalists.  A 
cupola  or  lantern  admits  a  tempered  light  from  above  and  a  free 
circulation  of  air ;  while  on  one  side  is  heard  the  refreshing  sound 
of  waters  from  the  fountain  of  the  lions,  and  on  the  other  side 
the  soft  plash  from  the  basin  in  the  garden  of  Lindaraxa. 

It  is  impossible  to  contemplate  this  scene,  so  perfectly  Ori 
ental,  without  feeling  the  early  associations  of  Arabian  romance, 
and  almost  expecting  to  see  the  white  arm  of  some  mysterious 


42  THE    ALHAMBRA 

princess  beckoning  from  the  gallery,  or  some  dark  eye  sparkling 
through  the  lattice.  The  abode  of  beauty  is  here  as  if  it  had 
been  inhabited  but  yesterday;  but  where  are  the  two  sisters, 
where  the  Zoraydas  and  Lindaraxas  ! 

An  abundant  supply  of  water,  brought  from  the  mountains 
by  old  Moorish  aqueducts,  circulates  throughout  the  palace,  sup 
plying  its  baths  and  fish-pools,  sparkling  in  jets  within  its  halls 
or  murmuring  in  channels  along  the  marble  pavements.  When 
it  has  paid  its  tribute  to  the  royal  pile,  and  visited  its  gardens 
and  parterres,  it  flows  down  the  long  avenue  leading  to  the  city, 
tinkling  in  rills,  gushing  in  fountains,  and  maintaining  a  per 
petual  verdure  in  those  groves  that  embower  and  beautify  the 
whole  hill  of  the  Alhambra. 

Those  only  who  have  sojourned  in  the  ardent  climates  of  the 
South  can  appreciate  the  delights  of  an  abode  combining  the 
breezy  coolness  of  the  mountain  with  the  freshness  and  verdure 
of  the  valley.  While  the  city  below  pants  with  the  noontide 
heat,  and  the  parched  Vega  trembles  to  the  eye,  the  delicate 
airs  from  the  Sierra  Nevada  play  through  these  lofty  halls,  bring 
ing  with  them  the  sweetness  of  the  surrounding  gardens.  Every 
thing  invites  to  that  indolent  repose,  the  bliss  of  southern  climes ; 
and  while  the  half-shut  eye  looks  out  from  shaded  balconies 
upon  the  glittering  landscape,  the  ear  is  lulled  by  the  rustling 
of  groves  and  the  murmur  of  running  streams. 

I  forbear  for  the  present,  however,  to  describe  the  other  de 
lightful  apartments  of  the  palace.  My  object  is  merely  to  give 
the  reader  a  general  introduction  into  an  abode  where,  if  so  dis 
posed,  he  may  linger  and  loiter  with  me  day  by  day  until  we 
gradually  become  familiar  with  all  its  localities. 

NOTE  ON  MORISCO  ARCHITECTURE 

To  an  unpractised  eye  the  light  relievos  and  fanciful  arabesques 
which  cover  the  walls  of  the  Alhambra  appear  to  have  been  sculp 
tured  by  the  hand,  with  a  minute  and  patient  labor,  an  inexhausti- 


NOTE    ON   MORISCO   ARCHITECTURE  43 

ble  variety  of  detail,  yet  a  general  uniformity  and  harmony  of 
design  truly  astonishing ;  and  this  may  especially  be  said  of  the 
vaults  and  cupolas,  which  are  wrought  like  honey-combs,  or  frost 
work,  with  stalactites  and  pendants  which  confound  the  beholder 
with  the  seeming  intricacy  of  their  patterns.  The  astonishment 
ceases,  however,  when  it  is  discovered  that  this  is  all  stucco-work ; 
plates  of  plaster  of  Paris,  cast  in  moulds  and  skilfully  joined  so  as 
to  form  patterns  of  every  size  and  form.  This  mode  of  diapering 
walls  with  arabesques,  and  stuccoing  the  vaults  with  grotto-work, 
was  invented  in  Damascus,  but  highly  improved  by  the  Moors  in 
Morocco,  to  whom  Saracenic  architecture  owes  its  most  graceful 
and  fanciful  details.  The  process  by  which  all  this  fairy  tracery 
was  produced  was  ingeniously  simple.  The  wall  in  its  naked  state 
was  divided  off  by  lines  crossing  at  right  angles,  such  as  artists  use 
in  copying  a  picture  ;  over  these  were  drawn  a  succession  of  inter 
secting  segments  of  circles.  By  the  aid  of  these  the  artists  could 
work  with  celerity  and  certainty,  and  from  the  mere  intersection 
of  the  plain  and  curved  lines  arose  the  interminable  variety  of  pat 
terns  and  the  general  uniformity  of  their  character. 

Much  gilding  was  used  in  the  stucco-work,  especially  of  the  cupo 
las  ;  and  the  interstices  were  delicately  pencilled  with  brilliant  colors, 
such  as  vermilion  and  lapis  lazuli,  laid  on  with  the  whites  of  eggs. 
The  primitive  colors  alone  were  used,  says  Ford,  by  the  Egyptians, 
Greeks,  and  Arabs,  in  the  early  period  of  art ;  and  they  prevail  in 
the  Alhambra  whenever  the  artist  has  been  Arabic  or  Moorish. 
It  is  remarkable  how  much  of  their  original  brilliancy  remains  after 
the  lapse  of  several  centuries. 

The  lower  part  of  the  walls  in  the  saloons,  to  the  height  of  several 
feet,  is  incrusted  with  glazed  tiles,  joined  like  the  plates  of  stucco- 
work,  so  as  to  form  various  patterns.  On  some  of  them  are  em 
blazoned  the  escutcheons  of  the  Moslem  kings,  traversed  with  a 
band  and  motto.  These  glazed  tiles  (azulejos  in  Spanish,  az-zulaj 
in  Arabic)  are  of  Oriental  origin  ;  their  coolness,  cleanliness,  and 
freedom  from  vermin,  render  them  admirably  fitted  in  sultry  cli 
mates  for  paving  halls  and  fountains,  incrusting  bathing-rooms,  and 
lining  the  wralls  of  chambers.  Ford  is  inclined  to  give  them  great 
antiquity.  From  their  prevailing  colors,  sapphire  and  blue,  he  de 
duces  that  they  may  have  formed  the  kind  of  pavements  alluded  to  « 
in  the  sacred  Scriptures  :  —  "There  was  under  his  feet  as  it  were  a 
paved  work  of  a  sapphire  stone  "  (Exod.  xxiv.  10)  ;  and  again, 
"  Behold  I  will  lay  thy  stones  with  fair  colors,  and  lay  thy  founda 
tions  with  sapphires  "  (Isaiah  liv.  11). 


44  THE   ALHAMBRA 

These  glazed  or  porcelain  tiles  were  introduced  into  Spain  at  an 
early  date  by  the  Moslems.  Some  are  to  be  seen  among  the  Moor 
ish  ruins  which  have  been  there  upwards  of  eight  centuries.  Manu 
factures  of  them  still  exist  in  the  Peninsula,  and  they  are  much  used 
in  the  best  Spanish  houses,  especially  in  the  southern  provinces,  for 
paving  and  lining  the  summer  apartments. 

The  Spaniards  introduced  them  into  the  Netherlands  when  they 
had  possession  of  that  country.  The  people  of  Holland  adopted 
them  with  avidity,  as  wonderfully  suited  to  their  passion  for  house 
hold  cleanliness  ;  and  thus  these  Oriental  inventions,  the  azulejos 
of  the  Spanish,  the  az-zulaj  of  the  Arabs,  have  come  to  be  com 
monly  known  as  Dutch  tiles. 


IMPORTANT  NEGOTIATIONS  — THE  AUTHOR  SUC 
CEEDS   TO   THE   THRONE   OF   BOABDIL 

THE  day  was  nearly  spent  before  we  could  tear  ourself  from 
this  region  of  poetry  and  romance  to  descend  to  the  city  and  re 
turn  to  the  forlorn  realities  of  a  Spanish  posada.  In  a  visit  of 
ceremony  to  the  Governor  of  the  Alhambra,  to  whom  we  had 
brought  letters,  we  dwelt  with  enthusiasm  on  the  scenes  we  had 
witnessed,  and  could  not  but  express  surprise  that  he  should  re 
side  in  the  city  when  he  had  such  a  paradise  at  his  command. 
He  pleaded  the  inconvenience  of  a  residence  in  the  palace  from 
its  situation  on  the  crest  of  a  hill,  distant  from  the  seat  of  busi 
ness  and  the  resorts  of  social  intercourse.  It  did  very  well  for 
monarchs,  who  often  had  need  of  castle  walls  to  defend  them 
from  their  own  subjects.  "But,  senors,"  added  he,  smiling, 
"  if  you  think  a  residence  there  so  desirable,  my  apartments  in 
the  Alhambra  are  at  your  service." 

It  is  a  common  and  almost  indispensable  point  of  politeness 
in  a  Spaniard  to  tell  you  his  house  is  yours.  —  "  Esta  casa  es 
siempre  a  la  disposition  de  Vm"  —  (  This  house  is  always  at 
the  command  of  your  Grace.)  In  fact,  anything  of  his  which 
you  admire  is  immediately  offered  to  you.  It  is  equally  a  mark 


v        THE   LOAN    OF   A    PALACE  45 

of  good  breeding  in  you  not  to  accept  it ;  so  we  merely  bowed 
our  acknowledgments  of  the  courtesy  of  the  Governor  in  offer 
ing  us  a  royal  palace.  We  were  mistaken,  however.  The  Gov 
ernor  was  in  earnest.  "  You  will  find  a  rambling  set  of  empty, 
unfurnished  rooms,"  said  he ;  "  but  Tia  Antonia,  who  has  charge 
of  the  palace,  may  be  able  to  put  them  in  some  kind  of  order, 
and  to  take  care  of  you  while  you  are  there.  If  you  can  make 
any  arrangement  with  her  for  your  accommodation,  and  are  con 
tent  with  scanty  fare  in  a  royal  abode,  the  palace  of  King  Chico 
is  at  your  service." 

We  took  the  Governor  at  his  word,  and  hastened  up  the 
steep  Calle  de  los  Gomeres,  and  through  the  Great  Gate  of 
Justice,  to  negotiate  with  Dame  Antonia,  —  doubting  at  times 
if  this  were  not  a  dream,,  and  fearing  at  times  that  the  sage 
Duena  of  the  fortress  might  be  slow  to  capitulate.  We  knew 
we  had  one  friend  at  least  in  the  garrison,  who  wrould  be  in 
our  favor,  the  bright-eyed  little  Dolores,  whose  good  graces  we 
had  propitiated  on  our  first  visit ;  and  who  hailed  our  return 
to  the  palace  with  her  brightest  looks. 

All,  however,  went  smoothly.  The  good  Tia  Antonia  had 
a  little  furniture  to  put  in  the  rooms,  but  it  was  of  the  com 
monest  kind.  We  assured  her  we  could  bivouac  on  the  floor. 
She  could  supply  our  table,  but  only  in  her  own  simple  way ;  — 
we  wanted  nothing  better.  Her  niece,  Dolores,  would  wait 
upon  us ;  and  at  the  word  we  threw  up  our  hats  and  the  bar 
gain  was  complete. 

The  very  next  day  we  took  up  our  abode  in  the  palace,  and 
never  did  sovereigns  share  a  divided  throne  with  more  perfect 
harmony.  Several  days  passed  by  like  a  dream,  when  my 
worthy  associate,  being  summoned  to  Madrid  on  diplomatic 
duties,  was  compelled  to  abdicate,  leaving  me  sole  monarch 
of  this  shadowy  realm.  For  myself,  being  in  a  manner  a  hap 
hazard  loiterer  about  the  world,  and  prone  to  linger  in  its 
pleasant  places,  here  have  I  been  suffering  day  by  day  to  steal 


46  THE    ALHAMBRA 

away  unheeded,  spell-bound,  for  aught  I  know,  in  this  old 
enchanted  pile.  Having  always  a  companionable  feeling  for 
my  reader,  and  being  prone  to  live  with  him  on  confidential 
terms,  I  shall  make  it  a  point  to  communicate  to  him  my 
reveries  and  researches  during  this  state  of  delicious  thraldom. 
If  they  have  the  power  of  imparting  to  his  imagination  any  of 
the  witching  charms  of  the  place,  he  will  not  repine  at  lingering 
with  me  for  a  season  in  the- legendary  halls  of  the  Alhambra. 

And  first  it  is  proper  to  give  him  some  idea  of  my  domestic 
arrangements  :  they  are  rather  of  a  simple  kind  for  the  occu 
pant  of  a  regal  palace;  but  I  trust  they  will  be  less  liable  to 
disastrous  reverses  than  those  of  my  royal  predecessors. 

My  quarters  are  at  one  end  of  the  Governor's  apartment, 
a  suite  of  empty  chambers,  in  front  of  the  palace,  looking  out 
upon  the  great  esplanade  called  la  plaza  de  los  algibes  (the 
place  of  the  cisterns) ;  the  apartment  is  modern,  but  the  end 
opposite  to  my  sleeping-room  communicates  with  a  cluster 
of  little  chambers,  partly  Moorish,  partly  Spanish,  allotted  to 
the  chatdlaine  Doiia  Antonia  and  her  family.  In  consideration 
of  keeping  the  palace  in  order,  the  good  dame  is  allowed  all  the 
perquisites  received  from  visitors,  and  all  the  produce  of  the 
gardens ;  excepting  that  she  is  expected  to  pay  an  occasional 
tribute  of  fruits  and  flowers  to  the  Governor.  Her  family 
consists  of  a  nephew  and  niece,  the  children  of  two  different 
brothers.  The  nephew,  Manuel  Molina,  is  a  young  man  of 
sterling  worth  and  Spanish  gravity.  He  had  served  in  the 
army,  both  in  Spain  and  the  West  Indies,  but  is  now  study 
ing  medicine  in  the  hope  of  one  day  or  other  becoming  physi 
cian  to  the  fortress,  a  post  worth  at  least  one  hundred  and  forty 
dollars  a  year.  The  niece  is  the  plump  little  black-eyed 
Dolores  already  mentioned  ;  and  who,  it  is  said,  will  one  day 
inherit  all  her  aunt's  possessions,  consisting  of  certain  petty 
tenements  in  the  fortress,  in  a  somewhat  ruinous  condition  it  is 
true,  but  which,  I  am  privately  assured  by  Mateo  Ximenes, 


DOMESTIC   ARRANGEMENTS  47 

yield  a  revenue  of  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  so  that 
she  is  quite  an  heiress  in  the  eyes  of  the  ragged  son  of  the 
Al  ham  bra.  I  am  also  informed  by  the  same  observant  and 
authentic  personage,  that  a  quiet  courtship  is  going  on  between 
the  discreet  Manuel  and  his  bright-eyed  cousin,  and  that  nothing 
is  wanting  to  enable  them  to  join  their  hands  and  expectations 
but  his  doctor's  diploma,  and  a  dispensation  from  the  Pope  on 
account  of  their  consanguinity. 

The  good  dame  Antonia  fulfils  faithfully  her  contract  in 
regard  to  my  board  and  lodging ;  and  as  I  am  easily  pleased, 
I  find  my  fare  excellent ;  while  the  merry-hearted  little  Dolores 
keeps  my  apartments  in  order,  and  officiates  as  handmaid  at 
meal-times.  I  have  also  at  my  command  a  tall,  stuttering, 
yellow-haired  lad,  named  Pdpe,  who  works  in  the  gardens,  and 
would  fain  have  acted  as  valet;  but  in  this  he  was  forestalled 
by  Mateo  Ximenes,  the  "son  of  the  Alhambra."  This  alert 
and  officious  wight  has  managed,  somehow  or  other,  to  stick 
by  me  ever  since  I  first  encountered  him  at  the  outer  gate  of  the 
fortress,  and  to  weave  himself  into  all  my  plans,  until  he  has 
fairly  appointed  and  installed  himself  my  valet,  cicerone,  guide, 
guard,  and  historiographic  squire ;  and  I  have  been  obliged  to 
improve  the  state  of  his  wardrobe,  that  he  may  not  disgrace  his , 
various  functions  ;  so  that  he  has  cast  his  old  brown  mantle,  \ 
as  a  snake  does  his  skin,  and  now  appears  about  the  fortress 
with  a  smart  Andalusian  hat  and  jacket,  to  his  infinite  satisfac 
tion,  and  the  great  astonishment  of  his  comrades.  The  chief 
fault  of  honest  Mateo  is  an  over-anxiety  to  be  useful.  Con 
scious  of  having  foisted  himself  into  my  employ,  and  that  my 
simple  and  quiet  habits  render  his  situation  a  sinecure,  he  is  at 
his  wit's  ends  to  devise  modes  of  making  himself  important 
to  my  welfare.  I  am  in  a  manner  the  victim  of  his  officious- 
ness;  I  cannot  put  my  foot  over  the  threshold  of  the 
palace,  to  stroll  about  the  fortress,  but  he  is  at  my  elbow  to 
explain  everything  I  see;  and  if  I  venture  to  ramble  among 


48  THE   ALHAMBRA 

the  surrounding  hills,  he  insists  upon  attending  me  as  a  guard, 
though  I  vehemently  suspect  he  would  be  more  apt  to  trust  to 
the  length  of  his  legs  than  the  strength  of  his  arms,  in  case 
of  attack.  After  all,  however,  the  poor  fellow  is  at  times  an 
amusing  companion ;  he  is  simple-minded  and  of  infinite  good 
humor,  with  the  loquacity  and  gossip  of  a  village  barber,  and 
knows  all  the  small-talk  of  the  place  and  its  environs ;  but 
what  he  chiefly  values  himself  on,  is  his  stock  of  local  informa 
tion,  having  the  most  marvellous  stories  to  relate  of  every 
tower,  and  vault,  and  gateway  of  the  fortress,  in  all  of  which  he 
places  the  most  implicit  faith. 

Most  of  these  he  has  derived,  according  to  his  own  account, 
from  his  grandfather,  a  little  legendary  tailor,  who  lived  to  the 
age  of  nearly  a  hundred  years,  during  which  he  made  but  two 
migrations  beyond  the  precincts  of  the  fortress.  His  shop,  for  the 
greater  part  of  a  century  was  the  resort  of  a  knot  of  venerable 
gossips,  where  they  would  pass  half  the  night  talking  about  old 
times,  and  the  wonderful  events  and  hidden  secrets  of  the 
place.  The  whole  living,  moving,  thinking,  and  acting  of  this 
historical  little  tailor  had  thus  been  bounded  by  the  walls  of  the 
Alhambra ;  within  them  he  had  been  born,  within  them  he 
lived,  breathed,  and  had  his  being ;  within  them  he  died  and 
was  buried.  Fortunately  for  posterity,  his  traditionary  lore 
died  not  with  him.  The  authentic  Mateo,  when  an  urchin, 
used  to  be  an  attentive  listener  to  the  narratives  of  his 
grandfather,  and  of  the  gossiping  group  assembled  round  the 
shopboard,  and  is  thus  possessed  of  a  stock  of  valuable  knowl 
edge  concerning  the  Alhambra,  not  to  be  found  in  books,  and 
well  worthy  the  attention  of  every  curious  traveller. 

Such  are  the  personages  that  constitute  my  regal  household ; 
and  I  question  whether  any  of  the  potentates,  Moslem  or 
Christian,  who  have  preceded  me  in  the  palace,  have  been 
waited  upon  with  greater  fidelity,  or  enjoyed  a  serener  sway. 

When  I  rise  in  the  morning,  Pe'pe,  the  stuttering  lad  from 


THE   LEVEE    OF    TIA    ANTONIA  49 

the  gardens,  brings  me  a  tribute  of  fresh-culled  flowers,  which 
are  afterwards  arranged  in  vases  by  the  skilful  hands  of  Dolores, 
who  takes  a  feminine  pride  in  the  decoration  of  my  chambers. 
My  meals  are  made  wherever  caprice  dictates  ;  sometimes  in  one 
of  the  Moorish  halls,  sometimes  under  the  arcades  of  the  Court  of 
Lions,  surrounded  by  flowers  and  fountains :  and  when  I  walk  out, 
I  am  conducted  by  the  assiduous  Mateo  to  the  most  romantic 
retreats  of  the  mountains,  and  delicious  haunts  of  the  adjacent 
valleys,  not  one  of  which  but  is  the  scene  of  some  wonderful  tale. 
Though  fond  of  passing  the  greater  part  of  my  day  alone, 
yet  I  occasionally  repair  in  the  evenings  to  the  little  domestic 
circle  of  Dona  Antonia.  This  is  generally  held  in  an  old  Moor 
ish  chamber,  which  serves  the  good  dame  for  parlor,  kitchen, 
and  hall  of  audience,  and  which  must  have  boasted  of  some 
splendor  in  the  time  of  the  Moors,  if  we  may  judge  from  the 
traces  yet  remaining;  but  a  rude  fireplace  has  been  made  in 
modern  times  in  one  corner,  the  smoke  from  which  has  dis 
colored  the  walls,  and  almost  obliterated  the  ancient  arabesques. 
A  window,  with  a  balcony  overhanging  the  valley  of  the  Darro, 
lets  in  the  cool  evening  breeze;  and  here  I  take  my  frugal 
supper  of  fruit  and  milk,  and  mingle  with  the  conversation  of 
the  family.  There  is  a  natural  talent  or  mother-wit,  as  it  is 
called,  about  the  Spaniards,  which  renders  them  intellectual 
and  agreeable  companions,  whatever  may  be  their  condition  in 
life,  or  however  imperfect  may  have  been  their  education  :  add 
to  this,  they  are  never  vulgar ;  nature  has  endowed  them  with 
an  inherent  dignity  of  spirit.  The  good  Tia  Antonia  is  a  woman 
of  strong  and  intelligent,  though  uncultivated  mind ;  and  the 
bright-eyed  Dolores,  though  she  has  read  but  three  or  four  books 
in  the  whole  course  of  her  life,  has  an  engaging  mixture  of 
naivetd  and  good  sense,  and  often  surprises  me  by  the  pungency 
of  her  artless  sallies.  Sometimes  the  nephew  entertains  us  by 
reading  some  old  comedy  of  Calderon  or  Lope  de  Vega,  to  which 
he  is  evidently  prompted  by  a  desire  to  improve  as  well  as  amuse 


50  THE    ALHAMBEA 

his  cousin  Dolores ;  though,  to  his  great  mortification,  the  little 
damsel  generally  falls  asleep  before  the  first  act  is  completed. 
Sometimes  Tia  Antonia  has  a  little  levee  of  humble  friends  and 
dependants,  the  inhabitants  of  the  adjacent  hamlet,  or  the  wives 
of  the  invalid  soldiers.  These  look  up  to  her  with  great  defer 
ence,  as  the  custodian  of  the  palace,  and  pay  their  court  to  her 
by  bringing  the  news  of  the  place,  or  the  rumors  that  may 
have  straggled  up  from  Granada.  In  listening  to  these  evening 
gossipings  I  have  picked  up  many  curious  facts  illustrative  of  the 
manners  of  the  people  and  the  peculiarities  of  the  neighborhood. 
These  are  simple  details  of  simple  pleasures ;  it  is  the  nature 
of  the  place  alone  that  gives  them  interest  and  importance. 
I  tread  haunted  ground,  and  am  surrounded  by  romantic  asso 
ciations.  From  earliest  boyhood,  when,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Hudson,  I  first  pored  over  the  pages  of  old  Gines  Perez  de 
Hytas's  apocryphal  but  chivalresque  history  of  the  civil  wars  of 
Granada,  and  the  feuds  of  its  gallant  cavaliers,  the  Zegries  and 
Abencerrages,  that  city  has  ever  been  a  subject  of  my  waking 
dreams  :  and  often  have  I  trod  in  fancy  the  romantic  halls  of 
the  Alhambra.  Behold  for  once  a  day-dream  realized;  yet  I 
can  scarce  credit  my  senses,  or  believe  that  I  do  indeed  inhabit 
the  palace  of  Boabdil,  and  look  down  from  its  balconies  upon 
chivalric  Granada.  As  I  loiter  through  these  Oriental  chambers, 
and  hear  the  murmur  of  fountains  and  the  song  of  the  nightin 
gale  ;  as  I  inhale  the  odor  of  the  rose,  and  feel  the  influence  of  the 
balmy  climate,  I  am  almost  tempted  to  fancy  myself  in  a  paradise 
of  Mahomet,  and  that  the  plump  little  Dolores  is  one  of  the 
bright-eyed  houris,  destined  to  administer  to  the  happiness  of 
true  believers. 

INHABITANTS   OF   THE  ALHAMBKA 

I  HAVE  often  observed  that  the  more  proudly  a  mansion  has 
been  tenanted  in  the  day  of  its  prosperity,  the  humbler  are  its 


INHABITANTS    OF    THE    ALHAMBRA  51 

inhabitants  in  the  day  of  its  decline,  and  that  the  palace  of  a 
king  commonly  ends  in  being  the  nestling-place  of  the  beggar. 

The  Alhainbra  is  in  a  rapid  state  of  similar  transition. 
Whenever  a  tower  falls  to  decay,  it  is  seized  upon  by  some 
tatterdemalion  family,  who  become  joint -tenants,  with  the  bats 
and  owls,  of  its  gilded  halls ;  and  hang  their  rags,  those  stand 
ards  of  poverty,  out  of  its  windows  and  loopholes. 

I  have  amused  myself  with  remarking  some  of  the  motley 
characters  that  have  thus  usurped  the  ancient  abode  of  royalty,  \ 
and  who  seem  as  if  placed  here  to  give  a  farcical  termination  to  J 
the  drama  of  human  pride.  One  of  these  even  bears  the  mock 
ery  of  a  regal  title.  It  is  a  little  old  woman  named  Maria 
Antonia  Sabonea,  but  who  goes  by  the  appellation  of  la  Eeyna 
Coquina,  or  the  Cockle-queen.  She  is  small  enough  to  be  a 
fairy ;  and  a  fairy  she  may  be  for  ought  I  can  find  out,  for  no 
one  seems  to  know  her  origin.  Her  habitation  is  in  a  kind  of 
closet  under  the  outer  staircase  of  the  palace,  and  she  sits  in 
the  cool  stone  corridor,  plying  her  needle  and  singing  from 
morning  till  night,  with  a  ready  joke  for  every  one  that  passes ; 
for  though  one  of  the  poorest,  she  is  one  of  the  merriest  little 
women  breathing.  Her  great  merit  is  a  gift  for  story-telling, 
having,  I  verily  believe,  as  many  stories  at  her  command  as  the 
inexhaustible  Scheherezade  of  the  Thousand  and  One  Nights. 
Some  of  these  I  have  heard  her  relate  in  the  evening  tertulias 
of  Dame  Antonia,  at  which  she  is  occasionally  a  humble 
attendant. 

That  there  must  be  some  fairy  gift  about  this  mysterious 
little  old  woman,  would  appear  from  her  extraordinary  luck, 
since,  notwithstanding  her  being  very  little,  very  ugly,  and  very 
poor,  she  has  had,  according  to  her  own  account,  five  husbands 
and  a  half,  reckoning  as  a  half  one  a  young  dragoon,  who  died  ! 
during  courtship.  A  rival  personage  to  this  little  fairy  queen 
is  a  portly  old  fellow  with  a  bottle-nose,  who  goes  about  in  a 
rusty  garb,  with  a  cocked  hat  of  oil-skin  and  a  red  cockade.  He 


52  THE    ALHAMBRA 

V 

is  one  of  the  legitimate  sons  of  the  Alhambra,  and  has  lived  here  all 
his  life,  filling  various  offices,  such  as  deputy  alguazil,  sexton  of 
the  parochial  church,  and  marker  of  a  fives-court,  established  at 
the  foot  of  one  of  the  towers.  He  is  as  poor  as  a  rat,  but  as 
proud  as  he  is  ragged,  boasting  of  his  descent  from  the  illustrious 
house  of  Aguilar,  from  which  sprang  Gonzalvo  of  Cordova,  the 
grand  captain.  Nay,  he  actually  bears  the  name  of  Alonzo  de 
Aguilar,  so  renowned  in  the  history  of  the  Conquest ;  though 
the  graceless  wags  of  the  fortress  have  given  him  the  title  of  el 
padre  santo,  or  the  holy  father,  the  usual  appellation  of  the 
Pope,  which  T  had  thought  too  sacred  in  the  eyes  of  true  Cath 
olics  to  be  thus  ludicrously  applied.  It  is  a  whimsical  caprice 
of  fortune  to  present,  in  the  grotesque  person  of  this  tatterde 
malion,  a  namesake  and  descendant  of  the  proud  Alonzo  de 
Aguilar,  the  mirror  of  Andalusian  chivalry,  leading  an  almost 
mendicant  existence  about  this  once  haughty  fortress,  which  his 
ancestor  aided  to  reduce ;  yet  such  might  have  been  the  lot  of 
the  descendants  of  Agamemnon  and  Achilles,  had  they  lingered 
about  the  ruins  of  Troy  ! 

Of  this  motley  community,  I  find  the  family  of  my  gossiping 
squire,  Mateo  Ximenes,  to  form,  from  their  numbers  at  least,  a 
very  important  part.  His  boast  of  being  a  son  of  the  Alhambra 
is  not  unfounded.  His  family  has  inhabited  the  fortress  ever 
since  the  time  of  the  Conquest,  handing  down  an  hereditary 
poverty  from  father  to  son ;  not  one  of  them  having  ever  been 
known  to  be  worth  a  maravedi.  His  father,  by  trade  a  ribbon- 
weaver,  and  who  succeeded  the  historical  tailor  as  the  head  of 
the  family,  is  now  near  seventy  years  of  age,  and  lives  in  a 
hovel  of  reeds  and  plaster,  built  by  his  own  hands,  just  above 
the  iron  gate.  The  furniture  consists  of  a  crazy  bed,  a  table, 
and  two  or  three  chairs ;  a  wooden  chest,  containing,  besides 
his  scanty  clothing,  the  "archives  of  the  family."  These  are 
nothing  more  nor  less  than  the  papers  of  various  lawsuits  sus 
tained  by  different  generations ;  by  which  it  would  seem  that, 


THE   FAMILY    OF    MATEO  53 

with  all  their  apparent  carelessness  and  good-humor,  they  are  a 
litigious  brood.  Most  of  the  suits  have  been  brought  against 
gossiping  neighbors  for  questioning  the  purity  of  their  blood, 
and  denying  their  being  Christianas  Viejos,  i.e.  Old  Christians, 
without  Jewish  or  Moorish  taint.  In  fact,  I  doubt  whether 
this  jealousy  about  their  blood  has  not  kept  them  so  poor  in 
purse  :  spending  all  their  earnings  on  escribanos  and  alguazils. 
The  pride  of  the  hovel  is  an  escutcheon  suspended  against  the 
wall,  in  which  are  emblazoned  quarterings  of  the  arms  of  the 
Marquis  of  Caiesedo,  and  of  various  other  noble  houses,  with 
which  this  poverty-stricken  brood  claim  affinity. 

As  to  Mateo  himself,  who  is  now  about  thirty-five  years  of 
age,  he  has  done  his  utmost  to  perpetuate  his  line  and  continue 
the  poverty  of  the  family,  having  a  wife  and  a  numerous  prog 
eny,  who  inhabit  an  almost  dismantled  hovel  in  the  hamlet. 
How  they  manage  to  subsist,  he  only  who  sees  into  all  mysteries 
can  tell ;  the  subsistence  of  a  Spanish  family  of  the  kind  is  al 
ways  a  riddle  to  me ;  yet  they  do  subsist,  and  what  is  more, 
appear  to  enjoy  their  existence.  The  wife  takes  her  holiday 
stroll  on  the  Paseo  of  Granada,  with  a  child  in  her  arms  and 
half  a  dozen  at  her  heels ;  and  the  eldest  daughter,  now  verg 
ing  into  womanhood,  dresses  her  'hair  with  flowers,  and  dances 
gayly  to  the  castanets. 

There  are  two  classes  of  people  to  whom  life  seems  one  long 
holiday,  —  the  very  rich  and  the  very  poor ;  one,  because  they 
need  do  nothing ;  the  other,  because  they  have  nothing  to  do ; 
but  there  are  none  who  understand  the  art  of  doing  nothing  and 
living  upon  nothing,  better  than  the  poorer  classes  of  Spain. 
Climate  does  one  half,  and  temperament  the  rest.  Give  a  Span 
iard  the  shade  in  summer  and  the  sun  in  winter,  a  little  bread, 
garlic,  oil,  and  garbances,  an  old  brown  cloak  and  a  guitar,  and 
let  the  world  roll  on  as  it  pleases.  Talk  of  poverty  !  with  him 
it  has  no  disgrace.  It  sits  upon  him  with  a  grandiose  style,  like 
his  ragged  cloak.  He  is  a  hidalgo,  even  when  in  rags. 


54  THE    ALHAMBRA 

The  "  sons  of  the  Alhambra"  are  an  eminent  illustration  of  this 
practical  philosophy.  As  the  Moors  imagined  that  the  celestial 
paradise  hung  over  this  favored  spot,  so  I  am  inclined  at  times 
to  fancy  that  a  gleam  of  the  golden  age  still  lingers  about  this 
ragged  community.  They  possess  nothing,  they  do  nothing,  they 
care  for  nothing.  Yet,  though  apparently  idle  all  the  week, 
they  are  as  observant  of  all  holy  days  and  saints'  days  as  the 
most  laborious  artisan.  They  attend  all  fetes  and  dancings  in 
Granada  and  its  vicinity,  light  bonfires  on  the  hills  on  St.  John's 
eve,  and  dance  away  the  moonlight  nights  on  the  harvest-home 
of  a  small  field  within  the  precincts  of  the  fortress,  which  yield 
a  few  bushels  of  wheat. 

Before  concluding  these  remarks,  I  must  mention  one  of  the 
amusements  of  the  place,  which  has  particularly  struck  me.  I 
had  repeatedly  observed  a  long,  lean  fellow  perched  on  the  top 
of  one  of  the  towers,  manoeuvring  two  or  three  fishing-rods,  as 
though  he  were  angling  for  the  stars.  I  was  for  some  time  per 
plexed  by  the  evolutions  of  this  aerial  fisherman,  and  my  per 
plexity  increased  on  observing  others  employed  in  like  manner 
on  different  parts  of  the  battlements  and  bastions ;  it  was  not 
until  I  consulted  Mateo  Ximenes  that  I  solved  the  mystery. 

It  seems  that  the  pure  and*airy  situation  of  this  fortress  has 
rendered  it,  like  the  castle  of  Macbeth,  a  prolific  breeding-place 
for  swallows  and  martlets,  who  sport  about  its  towers  in  myr 
iads,  with  the  holiday  glee  of  urchins  just  let  loose  from  school. 
To  entrap  these  birds  in  their  giddy  circlings,  with  hooks  baited 
with  flies,  is  one  of  the  favorite  amusements  of  the  ragged  "sons 
of  the  Alhambra,"  who,  with  the  good-for-nothing  ingenuity  of 
arrant  idlers,  have  thus  invented  the  art  of  angling  in  the  sky. 


THE   HALL    OF    AMBASSADORS  55 


THE   HALL   OF  AMBASSADORS 

IN  one  of  my  visits  to  the  old  Moorish  chamber  where  the 
good  Tia  Antonia  cooks  her  dinner  and  receives  her  company,  I 
observed  a  mysterious  door  in  one  corner,  leading  apparently 
into  the  ancient  part  of  the  edifice.  My  curiosity  being  aroused, 
I  opened  it,  and  found  myself  in  a  narrow,  blind  corridor,  grop 
ing  along  which  I  came  to  the  head  of  a  dark  winding  staircase, 
leading  down  an  angle  of  the  Tower  of  Comares.  Down  this 
staircase  I  descended  darkling,  guiding  myself  by  the  wall  until 
I  came  to  a  small  door  at  the  bottom,  throwing  which  open,  I 
was  suddenly  dazzled  by  emerging  into  the  brilliant  antecham 
ber  of  the  Hall  of  Ambassadors ;  with  the  fountain  of  the  court 
of  the  Alberca  sparkling  before  me.  The  antechamber  is  sepa 
rated  from  the  court  by  an  elegant  gallery,  supported  by  slender 
columns  with  spandrels  of  open  work  in  the  Morisco  style.  At 
each  end  of  the  antechamber  are  alcoves,  and  its  ceiling  is  richly 
stuccoed  and  painted.  Passing  through  a  magnificent  portal, 
I  found  myself  in  the  far-famed  Hall  of  Ambassadors,  the  audi 
ence  chamber  of  the  Moslem  monarchs.  It  is  said  to  be  thirty- 
seven  feet  square,  and  *  sixty  feet  high ;  occupies  the  whole 
interior  of  the  Tower  of  Comares ;  and  still  bears  the  traces  of 
past  magnificence.  The  walls  are  beautifully  stucqoed  and  deco 
rated  with  Morisco  fancifulness  ;  the  lofty  ceiling  was  originally 
of  the  same  favorite  material,  with  the  usual  frostwork  and  pen 
sile  ornaments  or  stalactites  ;  which,  with  the  embellishments 
of  vivid  coloring  and  gilding,  must  have  been  gorgeous  in  the 
extreme.  Unfortunately  it  gave  way  during  an  earthquake,  and 
brought  down  with  it  an  immense  arch  which  traversed  the 
hall.  It  w?as  replaced  by  the  present  vault  or  dome  of  larch  or 
cedar,  with  intersecting  ribs,  the  whole  .curiously  wrought  and 
richly  colored;  still  Oriental  in  its  character,  reminding  one  of 


56  THE    ALHAMBRA 

"  those  ceilings  of  cedar  and  vermilion  that  we  read  of  in  the 
Prophets  and  the  Arabian  Nights." 

From  the  great  height  of  the  vault  above  the  windows,  the 
upper  part  of  the  hall  is  almost  lost  in  obscurity ;  yet  there  is 
a  magnificence  as  well  as  solemnity  in  the  gloom,  as  through  it 
we  have  gleams  of  rich  gilding  and  the  brilliant  tints  of  the 
Moorish  pencil. 

The  royal  throne  was  placed  opposite  the  entrance  in  a  recess, 
which  still  bears  an  inscription  intimating  that  Yusef  I.  (the 
monarch  who  completed  the  Alhambra)  made  this  the  throne 
of  his  empire.  Everything  in  this  noble  hall  seems  to  have 
been  calculated  to  surround  the  throne  with  impressive  dignity 
and  splendor;  there  was  none  of  the  elegant  voluptuousness 
which  reigns  in  other  parts  of  the  palace.  The  tower  is  of 
massive  strength,  domineering  over  the  whole  edifice  and  over 
hanging  the  steep  hillside.  On  three  sides  of  the  Hall  of  Am 
bassadors  are  windows  cut  through  the  immense  thickness  of 
the  walls  and  commanding  extensive  prospects.  The  balcony 
of  the  central  window  especially  looks  down  upon  the  verdant 
valley  of  the  Darro,  with  its  walks,  its  groves,  and  gardens. 
To  the  left  it  enjoys  a  distant  prospect  of  the  Vega ;  while  di 
rectly  in  front  rises  the  rival  height  of  the  Albaycin,  with  its 
medley  of  streets,  and  terraces,  and  gardens,  and  once  crowned 
by  a  fortress  that  vied  in  power  with  the  Alhambra.  "  111 
fated  the  man,  who  lost  all  this  ! "  exclaimed  Charles  V.,  as  he 
looked  forth  from  this  window  upon  the  enchanting  scenery 
it  commands. 

The  balcony  of  the  window  where  this  royal  exclamation  was 
made,  has  of  late  become  one  of  my  favorite  resorts.  I  have 
just  been  seated  there,  enjoying  the  close  of  a  long  brilliant  day. 
The  sun,  as  he  sank  behind  the  purple  mountains  of  Alhama, 
sent  a  stream  of  effulgence  up  the  valley  of  the  Darro,  that 
spread  a  melancholy  pomp  over  the  ruddy  towers  of  the  Alham 
bra  ;  while  the  Vega,  covered  with  a  slight  sultry  vapor  that 


THE   HALL    OF   AMBASSADORS  5? 

caught  the  setting  ray,  seemed  spread  out  in  the  distance  like  a 
golden  sea.  Not  a  breath  of  air  disturbed  the  stillness  of  the 
hour,  and  though  the  faint  sound  of  music  and  merriment  now 
and  then  rose  from  the  gardens  of  the  Darro,  it  but  rendered 
more  impressive  the  monumental  silence  of  the  pile  which  over 
shadowed  me.  It  was  one  of  those  hours  and  scenes  in  which 
memory  asserts  an  almost  magical  power  :  and,  like  the  evening 
sun  beaming  on  those  mouldering  towers,  sends  back  her  retro 
spective  rays  to  light  up  the  glories  of  the  past. 

As  I  sat  watching  the  effect  of  the  declining  daylight  upon  this 
Moorish  pile,  I  was  led  into  a  consideration  of  the  light,  elegant, 
and  voluptuous  character  prevalent  throughout  its  internal  ar 
chitecture,  and  to  contrast  it  with  the  grand  but  gloomy  solem 
nity  of  the  Gothic  edifices  reared  by  the  Spanish  conquerors. 
The  very  architecture  thus  bespeaks  the  opposite  and  irrecon 
cilable  natures  of  the  two  warlike  people  who  so  long  battled 
here  for  the  mastery  of  the  Peninsular.  By  degrees  I  fell  into 
a  course  of  musing  upon  the  singular  fortunes  of  the  Arabian  or 
Morisco-Spaniards,  whose  whole  existence  is  as  a  tale  that  is 
told,  and  certainly  forms  one  of  the  most  anomalous  yet  splendid 
episodes  in  history.  Potent  and  durable  as  was  their  dominion, 
we  scarcely  know  how  to  call  them.  They  were  a  nation  with 
out  a  legitimate  country  ror  name.  A  remote  wave  of  the  great 
Arabian  inundation,  cast  upon  the  shores  of  Europe,  they  seem 
to  have  all  the  impetus  of  the  first  rush  of  the  torrent.  Their 
career  of  conquest,  from  the  rock  of  Gibraltar  to  the  cliffs  of  the 
Pyrenees,  was  rapid  and  brilliant  as  the  Moslem  victories  of 
Syria  and  Egypt.  Nay,  had  they  not  been  checked  on  the 
plains  of  Tours,  all  France,  all  Europe,  might  have  been  over 
run  with  the  same  facility  as  the  empires  of  the  East,  and  the 
Crescent  at  this  day  have  glittered  on  the  fanes  of  Paris  and 
London. 

Repelled  within  the  limits  of  the  Pyrenees,  the  mixed  hordes 
of  Asia  and  Africa,  that  formed  this  great  irruption,  gave  up 


58  THE    ALHAMBRA 

the  Moslem  principle  of  conquest,  and  sought  to  establish  in 
Spain  a  peaceful  and  permanent  dominion.  As  conquerors, 
their  heroism  was  only  equalled  by  their  moderation ;  and  in 
both,  for  a  time,  they  excelled  the  nations  with  whom  they 
contended.  Severed  from  their  native  homes,  they  loved  the 
land  given  them  as  they  supposed  by  Allah,  and  strove  to  em 
bellish  it  with  everything  that  could  administer  to  the  happi 
ness  of  man.  Laying  the  foundations  of  their  power  in  a 
system  of  wise  and  equitable  laws,  diligently  cultivating  the 
arts  and  sciences,  and  promoting  agriculture,  manufactures,  and 
commerce,  they  gradually  formed  an  empire  unrivalled  for  its 
prosperity  by  any  of  the  empires  of  Christendom ;  and  diligently 
drawing  round  them  the  graces  and  refinements  which  marked 
the  Arabian  empire  in  the  East,  at  the  time  of  its  greatest  civi 
lization,  they  diffused  the  light  of  Oriental  knowledge  through 
the  wrestern  regions  of  benighted  Europe. 

The  cities  of  Arabian  Spain  became  the  resort  of  Christian 
artisans,  to  instruct  themselves  in  the  useful  arts.  The  uni 
versities  of  Toledo,  Cordova,  Seville,  and  Granada  were  sought 
by  the  pale  student  from  other  lands  to  acquaint  himself  with 
the  sciences  of  the  Arabs  and  the  treasured  lore  of  antiquity; 
the  lovers  of  the  gay  science  resorted  to  Cordova  and  Granada, 
to  imbibe  the  poetry  and  music  of  the  East ;  and  the  steel-clad 
warriors  of  the  North  hastened  thither  to  accomplish  themselves 
in  the  graceful  exercises  and  courteous  usages  of  chivalry. 

If  the  Moslem  monuments  in  Spain,  if  the  Mosque  of  Cordova, 
the  Alcazar  of  Seville,  and  the  Alhambra  of  Granada,  still  bear 
inscriptions  fondly  boasting  of  the  power  and  permanency  of 
their  dominion,  can  the  boast  be  derided  as  arrogant  and  vain  ? 
Generation  after  generation,  century  after  century,  passed  away, 
and  still  they  maintained  possession  of  the  land.  A  period 
elapsed  longer  than  that  which  has  passed  since  England  was 
subjugated  by  the  Norman  Conqueror,  and  the  descendants  of 
Musa  and  Taric  might  as  little  anticipate  being  driven  into 


MOSLEM   MONUMENTS  59 

exile  across  the  same  straits,  traversed  by  their  triumphant 
ancestors,  as  the  descendants  of  Rollo  and  William,  and  their 
veteran  peers,  may  dream  of  being  driven  back  to  the  shores  of 
Normandy. 

With  all  this,  however,  the  Moslem  empire  in  Spain  was  but 
a  brilliant  exotic,  that  took  no  permanent  root  in  the  soil  it  em 
bellished.  Severed  from  all  their  neighbors  in  the  West  by 
impassable  barriers  of  faith  and  manners,  and  separated  by  seas 
and  deserts  from  their  kindred  of  the  East,  the  Morisco-Spaniards 
were  an  isolated  people.  Their  whole  existence  was  a  prolonged, 
though  gallant  and  chivalric  struggle  for  a  foothold  in  a  usurped 
land. 

They  were  the  outposts  and  frontiers  of  Islamism.  The 
Peninsula  was  the  great  battle-ground  where  the  Gothic  con 
querors  of  the  North  and  the  Moslem  conquerors  of  the  East 
met  and  strove  for  mastery ;  and  the  fiery  courage  of  the  Arab 
was  at  length  subdued  by  the  obstinate  and  persevering  valor 
of  the  Goth. 

Never  was  the  annihilation  of  the  people  more  complete  than 
that  of  the  Morisco-Spaniards.  Where  are  they  ?  Ask  the 
shores  of  Barbary  and  its  desert  places.  The  exiled  remnant 
of  their  once  powerful  empire  disappeared  among  the  barbarians 
of  Africa,  and  ceased  to  be  a  nation.  The}7  have  not  even  left 
a  distinct  name  behind  them,  though  for  nearly  eight  centuries 
they  were  a  distinct  people.  The  home  of  their  adoption,  and 
of  their  occupation  for  ages,  refuses  to  acknowledge  them,  ex 
cept  as  invaders  and  usurpers.  A  few  broken  monuments  are 
all  that  remain  to  bear  witness  to  their  power  and  dominion, 
as  solitary  rocks,  left  far  in  the  interior,  bear  testimony  to  the 
extent  of  some  vast  inundation.  Such  is  the  Alhambra ;  —  a 
Moslem  pile  in  the  midst  of  a  Christian  land;  an  Oriental 
palace  amidst  the  Gothic  edifices  of  the  West ;  an  elegant  me 
mento  of  a  brave,  intelligent,  and  graceful  people,  who  con 
quered,  ruled,  flourished,  and  passed  away. 


60  THE   ALHAMBRA 


THE   JESUITS'   LIBRARY 

SINCE  indulging  in  the  foregoing  reverie,  my  curiosity  has 
been  aroused  to  know  something  of  the  princes  who  left  behind 
them  this  monument  of  Oriental  taste  and  magnificence,  —  and 
whose  names  still  appear  among  the  inscriptions  on  its  walls. 
To  gratify  this  curiosity,  I  have  descended  from  this  region  of 
fancy  and  fable,  where  everything  is  liable  to  take  an  imagi 
nary  tint,  and  have  carried  my  researches  among  the  dusty 
tomes  of  the  old  Jesuits'  Library  in  the  University.  This  once 
boasted  repository  of  erudition  is  now  a  mere  shadow  of  its 
former  self,  having  been  stripped  of  its  manuscripts  and  rarest 
works  by  the  French,  when  masters  of  Granada ;  still  it  con 
tains,  among  many  ponderous  tomes  of  the  Jesuit  fathers,  which 
the  French  were  careful  to  leave  behind,  several  curious  tracts 
of  Spanish  literature;  and,  above  all  a  number  of  those  anti 
quated,  parchment-bound  chronicles  for  which  I  have  a  particu 
lar  veneration. 

In  this  old  library  I  have  passed  many  delightful  hours  of 
quiet,  undisturbed,  literary  foraging ;  for  the  keys  of  the  doors 
and  bookcases  were  kindly  intrusted  to  me,  and  I  was  left 
alone,  to  rummage  at  my  pleasure,  —  a  rare  indulgence  in  these 
sanctuaries  of  learning,  which  too  often  tantalize  the  thirsty 
student  with  the  sight  of  sealed  fountains  of  knowledge. 

In  the  course  of  these  visits  I  gleaned  a  variety  of  facts  con 
cerning  historical  characters  connected  with  the  Alhambra,  some 
of  which  I  here  subjoin,  trusting  they  may  prove  acceptable  to 
the  reader. 


ALHAMAR,  THE  FOUNDER  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA 

THE  Moors  of  Granada  regarded  the  Alhambra  as  a  miracle 
of  art,  and  had  a  tradition  that  the  king  who  founded  it  dealt 


ALHAMAR  61 

in  magic,  or  at  least  in  alchemy,  by  means  whereof  he  procured 
the  immense  sums  of  gold  expended  in  its  erection.  A  brief 
view  of  his  reign  will  show  the  secret  of  his  wealth.  He  is 
known  in  Arabian  history  as  Muhamed  Ibn-1-Ahmar ;  but  his 
name  in  general  is  written  simply  Alhamar,  and  was  given  to 
him,  we  are  told,  on  account  of  his  ruddy  complexion.1 

He  was  of  the  noble  and  opulent  line  of  the  Beni  Nasar,  or 
tribe  of  Nasar,  and  was  born  in  Arjona,  in  the  year  of  the  He- 
gira  592  (A.D.  1195).  At  his  birth  the  astrologers,  we  are  told, 
cast  his  horoscope  according  to  Oriental  custom,  and  pronounced 
it  highly  auspicious ;  and  a  santon  predicted  for  him  a  glorious 
career.  No  expense  was  spared  in  fitting  him  for  the  high  des 
tinies  prognosticated.  Before  he  attained  the  full  years  of  man 
hood,  the  famous  battle  of  the  Navas  (or  plains)  of  Tolosa 
shattered  the  Moorish  empire,  and  eventually  severed  the  Mos 
lems  of  Spain  from  the  Moslems  of  Africa.  Factions  soon  arose 
among  the  former,  headed  by  warlike  chiefs  ambitious  of  grasp 
ing  the  sovereignty  of  the  Peninsula.  Alhamar  became  engaged 
in  these  wars ;  he  was  the  general  and  leader  of  the  Beni  Nasar, 
and,  as  such,  he  opposed  and  thwarted  the  ambition  of  Aben 
Hud,  who  had  raised  his  standard  among  the  warlike  mountains 
of  the  Alpuxaras,  and  been  proclaimed  king  of  Murcia  and 
Granada.  Many  conflict^  took  place  between  these  warring 
chieftains ;  Alhamar  dispossessed  his  rival  of  several  impor 
tant  places,  and  was  proclaimed  king  of  Jaen  by  his  soldiery ; 
but  he  aspired  to  the  sovereignty  of  the  whole  of  Anda 
lusia,  for  he  was  of  a  sanguine  spirit  and  lofty  ambition.  His 
valor  and  generosity  went  hand  in  hand  ;  what  he  gained  by 
the  one  he  secured  by  the  other;  and  at  the  death  of  Aben  Hud 
(A.D.  1238)  he  became  sovereign  of  all  the  territories  which 
owed  allegiance  to  that  powerful  chief.  He  made  his  formal 
entry  into  Granada  in  the  same  year,  amid  the  enthusiastic 
shouts  of  the  multitude,  who  hailed  him  as  the  only  one  cap 
able  of  uniting  the  various  factions  which  prevailed,  and  which 


62  THE    ALHAMBRA 

threatened  to  lay  the  empire  at  the  mercy  of  the  Christian 
princes. 

Alhamar  established  his  court  in  Granada ;  he  was  the  first  of 
the  illustrious  line  of  Nasar  that  sat  upon  a  throne.  He  took 
immediate  measures  to  put  his  little  kingdom  in  a  posture  of 
defence  against  the  assaults  to  be  expected  from  his  Christian 
neighbors,  repairing  and  strengthening  the  frontier  posts  and 
fortifying  the  capital.  Not  content  with  the  provisions  of  the 
Moslem  law,  by  which  every  man  is  made  a  soldier,  he  raised  a 
regular  army  to  garrison  his  strongholds,  allowing  every  soldier 
stationed  on  the  frontier  a  portion  of  land  for  the  support  of 
himself,  his  horse,  and  his  family,  —  thus  interesting  him  in  the 
defence  of  the  soil  in  which  he  had  a  property.  These  wise 
precautions  were  justified  by  events.  The  Christians,  profiting 
by  the  dismemberment  of  the  Moslem  power,  were  rapidly 
regaining  their  ancient  territories.  James  the '  Conqueror  had 
subjected  all  Valencia,  and  Ferdinand  the  Saint  sat  down  in 
person  before  Jaen,  the  bulwark  of  Granada.  Alhamar  ven 
tured  to  oppose  him  in  open  field,  but  met  with  a  signal  defeat, 
and  retired  discomfited  to  his  capital.  Jaen  still  held  out,  and 
kept  the  enemy  at  bay  during  an  entire  winter,  but  Ferdinand 
swore  not  to  raise  his  camp  until  he  had  gained  possession  of 
the  place.  Alhamar  found  it  impossible  to  throw  reinforce 
ments  into  the  besieged  city ;  he  saw  that  its  fall  must  be  fol 
lowed  by  the  investment  of  his  capital,  and  was  conscious  of 
the  insufficiency  of  his  means  to  cope  with  the  potent  sovereign 
of  Castile.  Taking  a  sudden  resolution,  therefore,  he  repaired 
privately  to  the  Christian  camp,  made  his  unexpected  appearance 
in  the  presence  of  King  Ferdinand,  and  frankly  announced  him 
self  as  the  king  of  Granada.  "  I  come,"  said  he,  "confiding  in 
your  good  faith,  to  put  myself  under  your  protection.  Take  all 
I  possess  and  receive  me  as  your  vassal ; "  so  saying,  he  knelt 
and  kissed  the  king's  hand  in  token  of  allegiance. 

Ferdinand  was  won  by  this  instance  of  confiding  faith,  and 


ALHAMAR  63 

determined  not  to  be  outdone  in  generosity.  He  raised  his  late 
enemy  from  the  earth,  embraced  him  as  a  friend,  and,  refusing 
the  wealth  he  offered,  left  him  sovereign  of  his  dominions,  under 
the  feudal  tenure  of  a  yearly  tribute,  attendance  at  the  Cortes 
as  one  of  the  nobles  of  the  empire,  and  service  in  war  with  a 
certain  number  of  horsemen.  He  moreover,  conferred  on  him 
the  honor  of  knighthood,  and  armed  him  with  his  own  hands. 

It  was  not  long  after  this  that  Alhamar  was  called  upon  for 
his  military  services,  to  aid  King  Ferdinand  in  his  famous  siege 
of  Seville.  The  Moorish  king  sallied  forth  with  five  hundred 
chosen  horsemen  of  Granada,  than  whom  none  in  the  world 
knew  better  how  to  manage  the  steed  or  wield  the  lance.  It 
was  a  humiliating  service,  however,  for  they  had  to  draw  the 
sword  against  their  brethren  of  the  faith. 

Alhamar  gained  a  melancholy  distinction  by  his  prowess  in 
this  renowned  conquest,  but  more  true  honor  by  the  humanity 
which  he  prevailed  upon  Ferdinand  to  introduce  into  the  usages 
of  war.  When  in  1248  the  famous  city  of  Seville  surrendered  to 
the  Castilian  monarch,  Alhamar  returned  sad  and  full  of  care  to 
his  dominions.  He  saw  the  gathering  ills  that  menaced  the 
Moslem  cause ;  and  uttered  an  ejaculation  often  used  by  him 
in  moments  of  anxiety  and  trouble,  —  "  How  straitened  and 
wretched  would  be  our  life,  if  our  hope  were  not  so  spacious  and 
extensive."  (Que  angoste  y  miserabile  seria  nuestra  vida,  sino 
fuera  tan  dilatada  y  espaciosa  nuestra  esperanza  1 ) 

As  he  approached  Granada  on  his  return,  he  beheld  arches  of 
triumph  which  had  been  erected  in  honor  of  his  martial  exploits. 
The  people  thronged  forth  to  see  him  with  impatient  joy,  for 
his  benignant  rule  had  won  all  hearts.  Wherever  he  passed  he 
was  hailed  with  acclamations  as  "El  Ghalib ! "  (the  conqueror). 
Alhamar  gave  a  melancholy  shake  of  the  head  on  hearing  the 
appellation.  "  Wa  le  ghalib  He  Aldh!"  (there  is  no  conqueror 
but  God)  exclaimed  he.  From  that  time  forward  this  exclama 
tion  became  his  motto,  and  the  motto  of  his  descendants,  and 


64  THE   ALHAMBRA 

appears  to  this  day  emblazoned  on  his  escutcheons  in  the  halls 
of  the  Alhambra. 

Alhamar  had  purchased  peace  by  submission  to  the  Christian 
yoke ;  but  he  was  conscious  that,  with  elements  so  discordant 
and  motives  for  hostility  so  deep  and  ancient,  it  could  not  be 
permanent.  Acting,  therefore,  upon  the  old  maxim,  "  Arm 
thyself  in  peace  and  clothe  thyself  in  summer,"  he  improved  the 
present  interval  of  tranquillity  by  fortifying  his  dominions,  re 
plenishing  his  arsenals,  and  promoting  those  useful  arts  which 
give  wealth  and  real  power.  He  confided  the  command  of  his 
various  cities  to  such  as  had  distinguished  themselves  by  valor 
and  prudence,  and  who  seemed  most  acceptable  to  the  people. 
He  organized  a  vigilant  police,  and  established  rigid  rules  for  the 
administration  of  justice.  The  poor  and  the  distressed  always 
found  ready  admission  to  his  presence,  and  he  attended  person 
ally  to  their  assistance  and  redress.  He  erected  hospitals  for 
the  blind,  the  aged,  and  infirm,  and  all  those  incapable  of  labor, 
and  visited  them  frequently ;  not  on  set  days  with  pomp  and 
form,  so  as  to  give  time  for  everything  to  be  put  in  order,  and 
every  abuse  concealed,  but  suddenly,  and  unexpectedly,  inform 
ing  himself,  by  actual  observation  and  close  inquiry,  of  the 
treatment  of  the  sick,  and  the  conduct  of  those  appointed  to 
administer  to  their  relief.  He  founded  schools  and  colleges, 
which  he  visited  in  the  same  manner,  inspecting  personally  the 
instruction  of  the  youth.  He  established  butcheries  and  public 
ovens,  that  the  people  might  be  furnished  with  wholesome  pro 
visions  at  just  and  regular  prices.  He  introduced  abundant 
streams  of  water  into  the  city,  erecting  baths  and  fountains,  and 
constructing  aqueducts  and  canals  to  irrigate  and  fertilize  the 
Vega.  By  these  means  prosperity  and  abundance  prevailed  in 
this  beautiful  city  ;  its  gates  were  thronged  with  commerce,  and 
its  warehouses  filled  with  luxuries  and  merchandise  of  every 
clime  and  country. 

He   moreover  gave   premiums   and   privileges  to  the  best 


ALHAMAR  65 

artisans ;  improved  the  breed  of  horses  and  other  domestic  ani 
mals  ;  encouraged  husbandry ;  and  increased  the  natural  fertility 
of  the  soil  twofold  by  his  protection,  making  the  lovely  valleys 
of  his  kingdom  to  bloom  like  gardens.  He  fostered  also  the 
growth  and  fabrication  of  silk,  until  the  looms  of  Granada  sur 
passed  even  those  of  Syria  in  the  fineness  and  beauty  of  their 
productions.  He  moreover  caused  the  mines  of  gold  and  silver 
and  other  metals,  found  in  the  mountainous  regions  of  his 
dominions,  to  be  diligently  worked,  and  was  the  first  king  of 
Granada  who  struck  money  of  gold  and  silver  with  his  name, 
taking  great  care  that  the  coins  should  be  skilfully  executed. 

It  was  towards  the  middle  of  the  thirteenth  century,  and 
just  after  his  return  from  the  siege  of  Seville,  that  he  com 
menced  the  splendid  palace  of  the  Alhambra ;  superintending 
the  building  of  it  in  person ;  mingling  frequently  among  the 
artists  and  workmen,  and  directing  their  labors. 

Though  thus  magnificent  in  his  works  and  great  in  his  enter 
prises,  he  was  simple  in  his  person  and  moderate  in  his  enjoy 
ments.  His  dress  was  not  merely  void  of  splendor,  but  so 
plain  as  not  to  distinguish  him  from  his  subjects.  His  harem 
boasted  but  few  beauties,  and  these  he  visited  but  seldom, 
though  they  were  entertained  with  great  magnificence.  His 
wives  were  daughters  of  the  principal  nobles,  and  were  treated 
by  him  as  friends  and  rational  companions.  What  is  more, 
he  managed  to  make  them  live  in  friendship  with  one  another. 
He  passed  much  of  his  time  in  his  gardens ;  especially  in  those 
of  the  Alhambra,  which  he  had  stored  with  the  rarest  plants 
and  the  most  beautiful  and  aromatic  flowers.  Here  he  delighted 
himself  in  reading  histories,  or  in  causing  them  to  be  read  and 
related  to  him,  and  sometimes,  in  intervals  of  leisure,  employed 
himself  in  the  instruction  of  his  three  sons,  for  whom  he  had 
provided  the  most  learned  and  virtuous  masters. 

As  he  had  frankly  and  voluntarily  offered  himself  a  tributary 
vassal  to  Ferdinand,  so  he  always  remained  loyal  to  his  word, 


66  THE   ALHAMBRA 

giving  him  repeated  proofs  of  fidelity  and  attachment.  When 
that  renowned  monarch  died  in  Seville  in  1254,  Alhainar  sent 
ambassadors  to  condole  with  his  successor,  Alonzo  X.,  and 
with  them  a  gallant  train  of  a  hundred  Moorish  cavaliers 
of  distinguished  rank,  who  were  to  attend  round  the  royal  bier 
during  the  funeral  ceremonies,  each  bearing  a  lighted  taper. 
This  grand  testimonial  of  respect  was  repeated  by  the  Moslem 
monarch  during  the  remainder  of  his  life  on  each  anniversary 
of  the  death  of  King  Ferdinand  el  Santo,  when  the  hundred 
Moorish  knights  repaired  from  Granada  to  Seville,  and  took 
their  stations  with  lighted  tapers  in  the  centre  of  the  sumptuous 
cathedral  round  the  cenotaph  of  the  illustrious  deceased. 

Alhamar  retained  his  faculties  and  vigor  to  an  advanced  age. 
In  his  seventy-ninth  year  (A.D.  1272)  he  took  the  field  on 
horseback,  accompanied  by  the  flower  of  his  chivalry,  to  resist 
an  invasion  of  his  territories.  As  the  army  sallied  forth  from 
Granada,  one  of  the  principal  adalides,  or  guides,  who  rode  in 
the  advance,  accidentally  broke  his  lance  against  the  arch  of  the 
gate.  The  counsellors  of  the  king,  alarmed  by  this  circum 
stance,  which  was  considered  an  evil  omen,  entreated  him  to 
return.  Their  supplications  were  in  vain.  The  king  persisted, 
and  at  noontide  the  omen,  say  the  Moorish  chroniclers,  was 
fatally  fulfilled.  Alhamar  was  suddenly  struck  with  illness, 
and  had  nearly  fallen  from  his  horse.  He  was  placed  on  a 
litter,  and  borne  back  towards  Granada,  but  his  illness  in 
creased  to  such  a  degree  that  they  were  obliged  to  pitch  his 
tent  in  the  Vega.  His  physicians  were  filled  with  consternation, 
not  knowing  what  remedy  to  prescribe.  In  a  few  hours  he 
died,  vomiting  blood  and  in  violent  convulsions.  The  Castilian 
prince,  Don  Philip,  brother  of  Alonzo  X.,  was  by  his  side  when 
he  expired.  His  body  was  embalmed,  enclosed  in  a  silver  coffin, 
and  buried  in  the  Alhambra  in  a  sepulchre  of  precious  marble, 
amidst  the  unfeigned  lamentations  of  his  subjects  who  bewailed 
him  as  a  parent. 


ALHAMAE  67 

I  have  said  that  he  was  the  first  of  the  illustrious  line  of 
Nasar  that  sat  upon  a  throne.  .  I  may  add  that  he  was  the 
founder  of  a  brilliant  kingdom  which  will  ever  be  famous  in 
history  and  romance  as  the  last  rallying-place  of  Moslem  power 
and  splendor  in  the  Peninsula.  Though  his  undertakings  were 
vast,  and  his  expenditures  immense,  yet  his  treasury  was  always 
full ;  and  this  seeming  contradiction  gave  rise  to  the  story  that 
he  was  versed  in  magic  art,  and  possessed  of  the  secret  for 
transmuting  baser  metals  into  gold.  Those  who  have  attended 
to  his  domestic  policy,  as  here  set  forth,  will  easily  understand 
the  natural  magic  and  simple  alchemy  which  made  his  ample 
treasury  to  overflow. 

1  Et  porque  era  muy  rubio  llamaban  lo  los  Moros  Abenalhamar, 
que  quiere  decir  bermejo  .  .  .  et  porque  los  Moros  lo  llamaban 
Benalhamar  que  quiere  decir  bermejo  tomo  los  senales  bermejos, 
segun  que  los  ovieron  despues  los  Reyes  de  Granada.  —  BLEDA, 
Cronica  de  Alfonso  XL,  P.I.C.  44. 


YUSEF  ABUL  HAGIG 

THE   FINISHER  OF   THE   ALHAMBEA 

To  the  foregoing  particulars,  concerning  the  Moslem  princes 
who  once  reigned  in  these  halls,  I  shall  add  a  brief  notice  of  the 
monarch  who  completed  and  embellished  the  Alhambra.  Yusef 
Abul  Hagig  (or,  as  it  is  sometimes  written,  Haxis)  was  another 
prince  of  the  noble  line  of  Nasar.  He  ascended  the  throne  of 
Granada  in  the  year  of  grace  1333,  and  is  described  by  Moslem 
writers  as  having  a  noble  presence,  great  bodily  strength,  and  a 
fair  complexion  ;  and  the  majesty  of  his  countenance  increased, 
say  they,  by  suffering  his  beard  to  grow  to  a  dignified  length  and 
dyeing  it  black.  His  manners  were  gentle,  affable,  and  urbane ; 
he  carried  the  benignity  of  his  nature  into  warfare,  prohibiting 


68  THE   ALHAMBRA 

all  wanton  cruelty,  and  enjoining  mercy  and  protection  towards 
women  and  children,  the  aged  and  infirm,  and  all  friars  and 
other  persons  of  holy  and  recluse  life.  But  though  he  possessed 
the  courage  common  to  generous  spirits,  the  bent  of  his  genius 
was  more  for  peace  than  war,  and  though  repeatedly  obliged  by 
circumstances  to  take  up  arms,  he  was  generally  unfortunate. 

Among  other  ill-starred  enterprises,  he  undertook  a  great  cam 
paign,  in  conjunction  with  the  king  of  Morocco,  against  the 
kings  of  Castile  and  Portugal,  but  was  defeated  in  the  memo 
rable  battle  of  Salado,  which  had  nearly  proved  a  death-blow  to 
the  Moslem  power  in  Spain. 

Yusef  obtained  a  long  truce  after  this  defeat,  and  now  his 
character  shone  forth  in  its  true  lustre.  He  had  an  excellent 
memory,  and  had  stored  his  mind  with  science  and  erudition ; 
his  taste  was  altogether  elegant  and  refined,  and  he  was  accounted 
the  best  poet  of  his  time.  Devoting  himself  to  the  instruction 
of  his  people  and  the  improvement  of  their  morals  and  manners, 
he  established  schools  in  all  the  villages,  with  simple  and  uni 
form  systems  of  education;  he  obliged  every  hamlet  of  more 
than  twelve  houses  to  have  a  mosque,  and  purified  the  cere 
monies  of  religion,  and  the  festivals  and  popular  amusements, 
from  various  abuses  and  indecorums  which  had  crept  into  them. 
He  attended  vigilantly  to  the  police  of  the  city,  establishing  noc 
turnal  guards  and  patrols,  and  superintending  all  municipal  con 
cerns.  His  attention  was  also  directed  toward  finishing  the  great 
architectural  works  commenced  by  his  predecessors,  and  erecting 
others  on  his  own  plans.  The  Alhambra,  which  had  been  founded 
by  the  good  Alhamar,  was  now  completed.  Yusef  constructed 
the  beautiful  Gate  of  Justice,  forming  the  grand  entrance  to  the 
fortress,  which  he  finished  in  1348.  He  likewise  adorned  many 
of  the  courts  and  halls  of  the  palace,  as  may  be  seen  by  the  in 
scriptions  on  the  walls,  in  which  his  name  repeatedly  occurs. 
He  built  also  the  noble  Alcazar  or  citadel  of  Malaga,  now  un 
fortunately  a  mere  mass  of  crumbling  ruins,  but  which  most 


TUSEF  ABUL    HAGIG  69 

probably  exhibited  in  its  interior  similar  elegance  and  magnifi 
cence  with  the  Alhambra. 

The  genius  of  a  sovereign  stamps  a  character  upon  his  time. 
The  nobles  of  Granada,  imitating  the  elegant  and  graceful  taste 
of  Yusef,  soon  filled  the  city  of  Granada  with  magnificent  pal 
aces  ;  the  halls  of  which  were  paved  with  Mosaic,  the  walls  and 
ceilings  wrought  in  fretwork,  and  delicately  gilded  and  painted 
with  azure,  vermilion,  and  other  brilliant  colors,  or  minutely  in 
laid  with  cedar  and  other  precious  woods ;  specimens  of  which 
have  survived,  in  all  their  lustre,  the  lapse  of  several  centuries. 
Many  of  the  houses  had  fountains,  which  threw  up  jets  of  water 
to  refresh  and  cool  the  air.  They  had  lofty  towers,  also,  of  wood 
or  stone,  curiously  carved  and  ornamented,  and  covered  with 
plates  of  metal  that  glittered  in  the  sun.  Such  was  the  refined 
and  delicate  taste  in  architecture  that  prevailed  among  this  ele 
gant  people ;  insomuch  that,  to  use  the  beautiful  simile  of  an 
Arabian  writer,  "  Granada,  in  the  days  of  Yusef,  was  as  a  silver 
vase  filled  with  emeralds  and  jacinths." 

One  anecdote  will  be  sufficient  to  show  the  magnanimity  of 
this  generous  prince.  The  long  truce  which  had  succeeded  the 
battle  of  Salado  was  at  an  end,  and  every  effort  of  Yusef  to  re 
new  it  was  in  vain.  His  deadly  foe,  Alfonzo  XI.  of  Castile, 
took  the  field  with  great  force,  and  laid  siege  to  Gibraltar. 
Yusef  reluctantly  took  up  arms,  and  sent  troops  to  the  relief  of 
the  place.  In  the  midst  of  his  anxiety  he  received  tidings  that 
his  dreaded  foe  had  suddenly  fallen  a  victim  to  the  plague.  In 
stead  of  manifesting  exultation  on  the  occasion,  Yusef  called  to 
mind  the  great  qualities  of  the  deceased,  and  was  touched  with 
a  noble  sorrow.  "  Alas  ! "  cried  he,  "  the  world  has  lost  one 
of  its  most  excellent  princes;  a  sovereign  who  knew  how  to 
honor  merit,  whether  in  friend  or  foe ! " 

The  Spanish  chroniclers  themselves  bear  witness  to  this 
magnanimity.  According  to  their  accounts,  the  Moorish  cava 
liers  partook  of  the  sentiment  of  their  king,  and  put  on  mourn- 


70  THE    ALHAMBRA 

ing  for  the  death  of  Alfonzo.  Even  those  of  Gibraltar,  who 
had  been  so  closely  invested,  when  they  knew  that  the  hostile 
monarch  lay  dead  in  his  camp,  determined  among  themselves 
that  no  hostile  movement  should  be  made  against  the  Christians. 
The  day  on  which  the  camp  was  broken  up,  and  the  army  de 
parted  bearing  the  corpse  of  Alfonzo,  the  Moors  issued  in  multi 
tudes  from  Gibraltar,  and  stood  mute  and  melancholy,  watching 
the  mournful  pageant.  The  same  reverence  for  the  deceased 
was  observed  by  all  the  Moorish  commanders  on  the  frontiers, 
who  suffered  the  funeral  train  to  pass  in  safety,  bearing  the 
corpse  of  the  Christian  sovereign  from  Gibraltar  to  Seville.1 

Yusef  did  not  long  survive  the  enemy  he  had  so  generously 
deplored.  In  the  year  1354,  as  he  was  one  day  praying  in  the 
royal  mosque  of  the  Alhambra,  a  maniac  rushed  suddenly  from 
behind  and  plunged  a  dagger  in  his  side.  The  cries  of  the  king 
brought  his  guards  and  courtiers  to  his  assistance.  They  found 
him  weltering  in  his  blood.  He  made  some  signs  as  if  to  speak, 
but  his  words  were  unintelligible.  They  bore  him  senseless  to 
the  royal  apartments,  where  he  expired  almost  immediately. 
The  murderer  was  cut  to  pieces,  and  his  limbs  burnt  in  public 
to  gratify  the  fury  of  the  populace. 

The  body  of  the  king  was  interred  in  a  superb  sepulchre  of 
white  marble ;  a  long  epitaph,  in  letters  of  gold  upon  an  azure 
ground,  recorded  his  virtues.  "  Here  lies  a  king  and  martyr,  of 
an  illustrious  line,  gentle,  learned,  and  virtuous;  renowned  for 
the  graces  of  his  person  and  his  manners ;  whose  clemency, 
piety,  and  benevolence  were  extolled  throughout  the  kingdom  of 
Granada.  He  was  a  great  prince;  an  illustrious  captain;  a 
sharp  sword  of  the  Moslems ;  a  valiant  standard-bearer  among 
the  most  potent  rnonarchs,"  &c. 

The  mosque  still  exists  which  once  resounded  with  the  dying 
cries  of  Yusef,  but  the  monument  which  recorded  his  virtues 
has  long  since  disappeared.  His  name,  however,  remains  in 
scribed  among  the  delicate  and  graceful  ornaments  of  the 


THE   MYSTERIOUS    CHAMBERS  71 

Alhambra,  and  will   be  perpetuated  in  connection  with    this 
renowned  pile,  which  it  was  his  pride  and  delight  to  beautify. 

1  "  Y  los  moros  que  estaban  en  la  villa  y  Castillo  de  Gibraltar 
despues  que  sopieron  que  el  Key  Don  Alonzo  era  muerto,  ordenaron 
entresi  que  niriguno  non  fuesse  osado  de  fazer  ningun  movimiento 
contra  los  Christianos,  ni  mover  pelear  contra  ellos,  estovieron 
todos  quedos  y  dezian  entre  ellos  qui  aquel  diamuriera  un  noble 
rey  y  Gran  principe  del  mundo." 


THE  MYSTERIOUS   CHAMBERS 

As  I  was  rambling  one  day  about  the  Moorish  halls,  my 
attention  was,  for  the  first  time,  attracted  to  a  door  in  a  remote 
gallery,  communicating  apparently  with  some  part  of  the  Al 
hambra  which  I  had  not  yet  explored.  I  attempted  to  open  it, 
but  it  was  locked.  I  knocked,  but  no  one  answered,  and  the 
sound  seemed  to  reverberate  through  empty  chambers.  Here 
then  was  a  mystery.  Here  was  the  haunted  wing  of  the  castle. 
How  was  I  to  get  at  the  dark  secrets  here  shut  up  from  the 
public  eye  1  Should  I  come  privately  at  night  with  lamp  and 
sword,  according  to  the  prying  custom  of  heroes  of  romance ;  or 
should  I  endeavor  to  draw  the  secret  from  Pdpe  the  stuttering 
gardener;  or  the  ingenuous  Dolores,  or  the  loquacious  Mateo  ? 
Or  should  I  go  frankly  and  openly  to  Dame  Antonia  the  chate 
laine,  and  ask  her  all  about  it  1  I  chose  the  latter  course,  as 
being  the  simplest  though  the  least  romantic ;  and  found,  some 
what  to  my  disappointment,  that  there  was  no  mystery  in  the 
case.  I  was  welcome  to  explore  the  apartment,  and  there  was 
the  key. 

Thus  provided,  I  returned  forthwith  to  the  door.  It  opened, 
as  I  had  surmised,  to  a  range  of  vacant  chambers ;  but  they 
were  quite  different  from  the  rest  of  the  palace.  The  archi 
tecture,  though  rich  and  antiquated,  was  European.  There 


72  THE   ALHAMBRA 

was  nothing  Moorish  about  it.  The  first  two  rooms  were  lofty  \ 
the  ceilings,  broken  in  many  places,  were  of  cedar,  deeply  pan 
elled  and  skilfully  carved  with  fruits  and  flowers,  intermingled 
with  grotesque  masks  or  faces. 

The  walls  had  evidently  in  ancient  times  been  hung  with 
damask ;  but  now  were  naked,  and  scrawled  over  by  that  class 
of  aspiring  travellers  who  defile  noble  monuments  with  their 
worthless  names.  The  windows,  dismantled  and  open  to  wind 
and  weather,  looked  out  into  a  charming  little  secluded  garden, 
where  an  alabaster  fountain  sparkled  among  roses  and  myrtles, 
and  was  surrounded  by  orange  and  citron  trees,  some  of  which 
flung  their  branches  into  the  chambers.  Beyond  these  rooms 
were  two  saloons,  longer  but  less  lofty,  looking  also  into  the 
garden.  In  the  compartments  of  the  panelled  ceilings  were 
baskets  of  fruit  and  garlands  of  flowers,  painted  by  no  mean 
hand,  and  in  tolerable  preservation.  The  walls  also  had  been 
painted  in  fresco  in  the  Italian  style,  but  the  paintings  were 
nearly  obliterated;  the  windows  were  in  the  same  shattered 
state  with  those  of  the  other  chambers.  This  fanciful  suite 
of  rooms  terminated  in  an  open  gallery  with  balustrades,  run 
ning  at  right  angles  along  another  side  of  the  garden.  The 
whole  apartment,  so  delicate  and  elegant  in  its  decorations,  so 
choice  and  sequestered  in  its  situation  along  this  retired  little 
garden,  and  so  different  in  architecture  from  the  neighboring 
halls,  awakened  an  interest  in  its  history.  I  found  on  inquiry 
that  it  was  an  apartment  fitted  up  by  Italian  artists  in  the  early 
part  of  the  last  century,  at  the  time  when  Philip  V.  and  his 
second  wife,  the  beautiful  Elizabetta  of  Farnese,  daughter  of 
the  Duke  of  Parma,  were  expected  at  the  Alhambra.  It  was 
destined  for  the  queen  and  the  ladies  of  her  train.  One  of 
the  loftiest  chambers  had  been  her  sleeping-room.  A  narrow 
staircase,  now  walled  up,  led  up  to  a  delightful  belvidere, 
originally  a  mirador  of  the  Moorish  sultanas,  communicating 
with  the  harem ;  but  which  was  fitted  up  as  a  boudoir  for  the 


LINDARAXA  73 

fair  Elizabetta,  and  still  retains  the  name  of  el  tocador  de  la 
Reyna,  or  the  queen's  toilette. 

One  window  of  the  royal  sleeping-room  commanded  a  pros 
pect  of  the  Generalife  and  its  embowered  terraces ;  another 
looked  out  into  the  little  secluded  garden  I  have  mentioned, 
which  was  decidedly  Moorish  in  its  character,  and  also  had  its 
history.  It  was  in  fact  the  garden  of  Lindaraxa,  so  often 
mentioned  in  descriptions  of  the  Alhambra,  but  who  this 
Lindaraxa  was  I  had  never  heard  explained.  A  little  research 
gave  me  the  few  particulars  known  about  her.  She  was  a 
Moorish  beauty  who  flourished  in  the  court  of  Muhamed  the 
Left-Handed,  and  was  the  daughter  of  his  loyal  adherent,  the 
alcayde  of  Malaga,  who  sheltered  him  in  his  city  when  driven 
from  the  throne.  On  regaining  his  crown,  the  alcayde  was 
rewarded  for  his  fidelity.  His  daughter  had  her  apartment 
in  the  Alhambra,  and  was  given  by  the  king  in  marriage  to 
Nasar,  a  young  Cetimerien  prince  descended  from  Aben  Hud 
the  Just.  Their  espousals  were  doubtless  celebrated  in  the 
royal  palace,  and  their  honeymoon  may  have  passed  among 
these  very  bowers.1 

Four  centuries  had  elapsed  since  the  fair  Lindaraxa  passed 
away,  yet  how  much  of  the  fragile  beauty  of  the  scenes  she 
inhabited  remained  !  The  garden  still  bloomed  in  which  she 
delighted;  the  fountain  still  presented  the  crystal  mirror  in 
which  her  charms  may  once  have  been  reflected ;  the  alabaster, 
it  is  true,  had  lost  its  whiteness ;  the  basin  beneath,  overrun 
with  weeds,  had  become  the  lurking-place  of  the  lizard,  but 
there  was  something  in  the  very  decay  that  enhanced  the  in 
terest  of  the  scene,  speaking  as  it  did  of  that  mutability,  the 
irrevocable  lot  of  man  and  all  his  works. 

The  desolation  too  of  these  chambers,  once  the  abode  of  the 
proud  and  elegant  Elizabetta,  had  a  more  touching  charm  for 
me  than  if  I  had  beheld  them  in  their  pristine  splendor,  glit 
tering  with  the  pageantry  of  a  court. 


74-  THE    ALHAMBEA 

When  I  returned  to  my  quarters,  in  the  governor's  apart 
ment,  everything  seemed  tame  and  commonplace  after  the 
poetic  region  I  had  left.  The  thought  suggested  itself :  Why 
could  I  not  change  my  quarters  to  these  vacant  chambers  1 
That  would  indeed  be  living  in  the  Alhambra,  surrounded  by 
its  gardens  and  fountains,  as  in  the  time  of  the  Moorish  sover 
eigns.  I  proposed  the  change  to  Dame  Antonia  and  her  family, 
and  it  occasioned  vast  surprise.  They  could  not  conceive  any 
rational  inducement  for  the  choice  of  an  apartment  so  forlorn, 
remote,  and  solitary.  Dolores  exclaimed  at  its  frightful  loneli 
ness  ;  nothing  but  bats  and  owls  flitting  about,  —  and  then 
a  fox  and  wildcat  kept  in  the  vaults  of  the  neighboring  baths, 
and  roamed  about  at  night.  The  good  Tia  had  more  reason 
able  objections.  The  neighborhood  was  infested  by  vagrants  ; 
gipsies  swarmed  in  the  caverns  of  the  adjacent  hills ;  the  pal 
ace  was  ruinous  and  easy  to  be  entered  in  many  places ;  the 
rumor  of  a  stranger  quartered  alone  in  one  of  the  remote  and 
ruined  apartments,  out  of  the  hearing  of  the  rest  of  the  in 
habitants,  might  tempt  unwelcome  visitors  in  the  night,  espe 
cially  as  foreigners  were  always  supposed  to  be  well  stocked 
with  money.  I  was  not  to  be  diverted  from  my  humor,  how 
ever,  and  my  will  was  law  with  those  good  people.  So,  call 
ing  in  the  assistance  of  a  carpenter,  and  the  ever  officious 
Mateo  Ximenes,  the  doors  and  windows  were  soon  placed  in  a 
state  of  tolerable  security,  and  the  sleeping-room  of  the  stately 
Elizabetta  prepared  for  my  reception.  Mateo  kindly  volun 
teered  as  a  body-guard  to  sleep  in  my  an te- chamber ;  but  I 
did  not  think  it  worth  while  to  put  his  valor  to  the  proof. 

With  all  the  hardihood  I  had  assumed  and  all  the  pre 
cautions  I  had  taken,  I  must  confess  the  first  night  passed  in 
these  quarters  was  inexpressibly  dreary.  I  do  not  think  it  was 
so  much  the  apprehension  of  dangers  from  without  that  affected 
me,  as  the  character  of  the  place  itself,  with  all  its  strange 
associations  :  the  deeds  of  violence  committed  there  ;  the  tragi- 


THE   FIRST  NIGHT  75 

cal  ends  of  many  of  those  who  had  once  reigned  there  in  splen 
dor.  As  I  passed  beneath  the  fated  halls  of  the  tower  of 
Comares  on  the  way  to  my  chamber,  I  called  to  mind  a  quota 
tion  that  used  to  thrill  me  in  the  days  of  boyhood : 

"  Fate  sits  on  these  dark  battlements  and  frowns; 
And,  as  the  portal  opens  to  receive  me, 
A  voice  in  sullen  echoes  through  the  courts 
Tells  of  a  nameless  deed!  " 

The  whole  family  escorted  me  to  my  chamber,  and  took  leave 
of  me  as  of  one  engaged  on  a  perilous  enterprise ;  and  when  I 
heard  their  retreating  steps  die  away  along  the  waste  ante 
chambers  and  echoing  galleries;  and  turned  the  key  of  my 
door,  I  was  reminded  of  those  hobgoblin  stories,  where  the  hero 
is  left  to  accomplish  the  adventure  of  an  enchanted  house. 

Even  the  thoughts  of  the  fair  Elizabetta  and  the  beauties  of 
her  court,  who  had  once  graced  these  chambers,  now,  by  a  per 
version  of  fancy,  added  to  the  gloom.  Here  was  the  scene 
of  their  transient  gayety  and  loveliness ;  here  were  the  very 
traces  of  their  elegance  and  enjoyment ;  but  what  and  where 
were  they  1  Dust  and  ashes  !  tenants  of  the  tomb  !  phantoms 
of  the  memory ! 

A  vague  and  indescribable  awe  was  creeping  over  me.  I 
would  fain  have  ascribed  it  to  the  thoughts  of  robbers  awakened 
by  the  evening's  conversation,  but  I  felt  it  was  something  more 
unreal  and  absurd.  The  long-buried  superstitions  of  the 
nursery  were  reviving,  and  asserting  their  power  over  my 
imagination.  Everything  began  to  be  affected  by  the  working 
of  my  mind.  The  whispering  of  the  wind  among  the  citron- 
trees  beneath  my  window  had  something  sinister.  I  cast  my 
eyes  into  the  garden  of  Lindaraxa ;  the  groves  presented  a  gulf 
of  shadows ;  the  thickets,  indistinct  and  ghastly  shapes.  I  was 
glad  to  close  the  window,  but  my  chamber  itself  became  in 
fected.  There  was  a  slight  rustling  noise  overhead ;  a  bat 
suddenly  emerged  from  a  broken  panel  of  the  ceiling,  flitting 


76  THE   ALHAMBRA 

about  the  room  and  athwart  my  solitary  lamp ;  and  as  the 
fateful  bird  almost  flouted  my  face  with  his  noiseless  wing,  the 
grotesque  faces  carved  in  high  relief  in  the  cedar  ceiling,  whence 
he  had  emerged,  seemed  to  mope  and  mow  at  me. 

Rousing  myself,  and  half  smiling  at  this  temporary  weakness, 
I  resolved  to  brave  it  out  in  the  true  spirit  of  the  hero  of  the 
enchanted  house;  so,  taking  lamp  in  hand,  I  sallied  forth  to 
make  a  tour  of  the  palace.  Notwithstanding  every  mental 
exertion  the  task  was  a  severe  one.  I  had  to  traverse  waste 
halls  and  mysterious  galleries,  where  the  rays  of  the  lamp 
extended  but  a  short  distance  around  me.  I  walked,  as  it 
were,  in  a  mere  halo  of  light,  walled  in  by  impenetrable  dark 
ness.  The  vaulted  corridors  were  as  caverns ;  the  ceilings  of 
the  halls  were  lost  in  gloom.  I  recalled  all  that  had  been  said 
of  the  danger  from  interlopers  in  these  remote  and  ruined 
apartments.  Might  not  some  vagrant  foe  be  lurking  before  or 
behind  me,  in  the  outer  darkness  ?  My  own  shadow,  cast  upon 
the  wall,  began  to  disturb  me.  The  echoes  of  my  own  foot 
steps  along  the  corridors  made  me  pause  and  look  around.  I 
was  traversing  scenes  fraught  with  dismal  recollections.  One 
dark  passage  led  down  to  the  mosque  where  Yusef,  the  Moor 
ish  monarch,  the  finisher  of  the  Alhambra,  had  been  basely 
murdered.  In  another  place  I  trod  the  gallery  where  an 
other  monarch  had  been  struck  down  by  the  poniard  of  a 
relative  whom  he  had  thwarted  in  his  love. 

A  low  murmuring  sound,  as  of  stifled  voices  and  clanking 
chains,  now  reached  me.  It  seemed  to  come  from  the  Hall 
of  the  Abencerrages.  I  knew  it  to  be  the  rush  of  water 
through  subterranean  channels,  but  it  sounded  strangely  in  the 
night,  and  reminded  me  of  the  dismal  stories  to  which  it  had 
given  rise. 

Soon,  however,  my  ear  was  assailed  by  sounds  too  fearfully 
real  to  be  the  work  of  fancy.  As  I  was  crossing  the  Hall  of 
Ambassadors,  low  moans  and  broken  ejaculations  rose,  as  it 


THE    ALHAMBRA    BY   MOONLIGHT  77 

were,  from  beneath  my  feet.  I  paused  and  listened.  They 
then  appeared  to  be  outside  of  the  tower  —  then  again  within. 
Then  broke  forth  bowlings  as  of  an  animal  —  then  stifled 
shrieks  and  inarticulate  ravings.  Heard  in  that  dead  hour  and 
singular  place,  the  effect  was  thrilling.  I  had  no  desire  for 
further  perambulation;  but  returned  to  my  chamber  with 
infinitely  more  alacrity  than  I  had  sallied  forth,  and  drew  my 
breath  more  freely  when  once  more  within  its  walls  and 
the  door  bolted  behind  me.  When  I  awoke  in  the  morning, 
with  the  sun  shining  in  at  my  window  and  lighting  up  every 
part  of  the  building  with  his  cheerful  and  truth-telling  beams, 
I  could  scarcely  recall  the  shadows  and  fancies  conjured  up  by 
the  gloom  of  the  preceding  night;  or  believe  that  the  scenes 
around  me,  so  naked  and  apparent,  could  have  been  clothed 
with  such  imaginary  horrors. 

Still,  the  dismal  bowlings  and  ejaculations  I  had  heard  were 
not  ideal ;  they  were  soon  accounted  for,  however,  by  my  hand 
maid  Dolores :  being  the  ravings  of  a  poor  maniac,  a  brother 
of  her  aunt,  who  was  subject  to  violent  paroxysms,  during 
which  he  was  confined  in  a  vaulted  room  beneath  the  Hall  of 
Ambassadors. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  evenings  a  thorough  change  took  place 
in  the  scene  and  its  associations.  The  moon,  which  when  I 
took  possession  of  my  new  apartments  was  invisible,  gradually 
gained  each  evening  upon  the  darkness  of  the  night,  and  at 
length  rolled  in  full  splendor  above  the  towers,  pouring  a  flood 
of  tempered  light  into  every  court  and  hall.  The  garden 
beneath  my  window,  before  wrapped  in  gloom,  was  gently 
lighted  up ;  the  orange  and  citron  trees  were  tipped  with  sil 
ver  ;  the  fountain  sparkled  in  the  moonbeams,  and  even  the 
blush  of  the  rose  was  faintly  visible. 

I  now  felt  the  poetic  merit  of  the  Arabic  inscription  on  the 
walls,  —  "  How  beauteous  is  this  garden;  where  the  flowers  of 
the  earth  vie  with  the  stars  of  heaven.  What  can  compare 


78  THE    ALHAMBRA 

with  the  vase  of  yon  alabaster  fountain  filled  with  crystal  water  1 
nothing  but  the  moon  in  her  fulness,  shining  in  the  midst  of  an 
unclouded  sky ! " 

On  such  heavenly  nights  I  would  sit  for  hours  at  my  window 
inhaling  the  sweetness  of  the  garden,  and  musing  on  the  check 
ered  fortunes  of  those  whose  history  was  dimly  shadowed  out  in 
the  elegant  memorials  around.  Sometimes,  when  all  was  quiet, 
and  the  clock  from  the  distant  cathedral  of  Granada  struck  the 
midnight  hour,  I  have  sallied  out  on  another  tour  and  wandered 
over  the  whole  building ;  but  how  different  from  my  first  tour  : 
No  longer  dark  and  mysterious ;  no  longer  peopled  with  shadowy 
foes  ;  no  longer  recalling  scenes  of  violence  and  murder ;  all  was 
open,  spacious,  beautiful ;  everything  called  up  pleasing  and 
romantic  fancies  ;  Lindaraxa  once  more  walked  in  her  garden  ; 
the  gay  chivalry%  of  Moslem  Granada  once  more  glittered  about 
the  Court  of  Lions  !  Who  can  do  justice  to  a  moonlight  night 
in  such  a  place  ?  The  temperature  of  a  summer  midnight  in 
Andalusia  is  perfectly  ethereal.  We  seem  lifted  up  into  a  purer 
atmosphere ;  we  feel  a  serenity  of  soul,  a  buoyancy  of  spirits, 
an  elasticity  of  frame,  which  render  mere  existence  happiness. 
But  when  moonlight  is  added  to  all  this,  the  effect  is  like  en 
chantment.  Under  its  plastic  sway  the  Alhambra  seems  to 
regain  its  pristine  glories.  Every  rent  and  chasm  of  time ;  every 
mouldering  tint  and  weather-stain  is  gone ;  the  marble  resumes 
its  original  whiteness ;  the  long  colonnades  brighten  in  the  moon 
beams  ;  the  halls  are  illuminated  with  a  softened  radiance,  — 
we  tread  the  enchanted  palace  of  an  Arabian  tale  ! 

What  a  delight,  at  such  a  time,  to  ascend  to  the  little  airy 
pavilion  of  the  queen's  toilet  (el  tocador  de  la  reyna),  which, 
like  a  bird-cage,  overhangs  the  valley  of  the  Darro,  and  gaze 
from  its  light  arcades  upon  the  moonlight  prospect !  To  the 
right,  the  swelling  mountains  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  robbed  of 
their  ruggedness  and  softened  into  a  fairy  land,  with  their  snowy 
summits  gleaming  like  silver  clouds  against  the  deep  blue  sky. 


PANORAMA  FROM  THE  TOWER  OF  COM  ARES  79 

And  then  to  lean  over  the  parapet  of  the  Tocador  and  gaze  down 
upon  Granada  and  the  Albaycin  spread  out  like  a  map  below ; 
all  buried  in  deep  repose ;  the  white  palaces  and  convents  sleep 
ing  in  the  moonshine,  and  beyond  all  these  the  vapory  Vega 
fading  away  like  a  dreamland  in  the  distance. 

Sometimes  the  faint  click  of  castanets  rises  from  the  Alameda, 
where  some  gay  Andalusians  are  dancing  away  the  summer 
night.  Sometimes  the  dubious  tones  of  a  guitar  and  the  notes 
of  an  amorous  voice,  tell  perchance  the  whereabout  of  some 
moonstruck  lover  serenading  his  lady's  window. 

Such  is  a  faint  picture  of  the  moonlight  nights  I  have  passed 
loitering  about  the  courts  and  halls  and  balconies  of  this  most 
suggestive  pile;  " feeding  my  fancy  with  sugared  suppositions," 
and  enjoying  that  mixture  of  reverie  and  sensation  which  steal 
away  existence  in  a  southern  climate ;  so  that  it  has  been  al 
most  morning  before  I  have  retired  to  bed,  and  been  lulled  to 
sleep  by  the  falling  waters  of  the  fountain  of  Lindaraxa. 

1Una  de  las  cosas  en  que  tienen  precisa  intervencion  los  Reyes 
Moros  as  en  el  matrimonio  de  sus  grandes  :  de  aqui  nace  que  todos 
los  senores  llegadas  a  la  persona  real  si  casan  en  palacio,  y  siempre 
huvo  su  quarto  destinado  para  esta  ceremonia. 

One  of  the  things  in  which  the  Moorish  kings  interfered  was  in 
the  marriage  of  their  nobles  :  hence  it  came  that  all  the  seiiors 
attached  to  the  royal  person  were  married  in  the  palace  ;  and  there 
was  always  a  chamber  destined  for  the  ceremony.  —  Paseos  por 
Granada,  Paseo  XXI. 


PANORAMA  FROM  THE  TOWER  OF  COMARES 

* 

IT  is  a  serene  and  beautiful  morning :  the  sun  has  not  gained 
sufficient  power  to  destroy  the  freshness  of  the  night.  What  a 
morning  to  mount  to  the  summit  of  the  Tower  of  Comares,  and 
take  a  bird's-eye  view  of  Granada  and  its  environs  ! 

Come  then,  worthy  reader  and  comrade,  follow  my  footsteps 


80  THE    ALHAMBRA 

into  this  vestibule,  ornamented  with  rich  tracery,  which  opens 
into  the  Hall  of  Ambassadors.  We  will  not  enter  the  hall, 
however,  but  turn  to  this  small  door  opening  into  the  wall 
Have  a  care  !  here  are  steep  winding  steps  and  but  scanty 
light ;  yet  up  this  narrow,  obscure,  and  spiral  staircase,  the 
proud  monarchs  of  Granada  and  their  queens  have  often  as 
cended  to  the  battlements  to  watch  the  approach  of  invading 
armies,  or  gaze  with  anxious  hearts  on  the  battles  in  the  Vega. 

At  length  we  have  reached  the  terraced  roof,  and  may  take 
breath  for  a  moment,  while  we  cast  a  general  eye  over  the  splen 
did  panorama  of  city  and  country  ;  of  rocky  mountain,  verdant 
valley,  and  fertile  plain  ;  of  castle,  cathedral,  Moorish  towers, 
and  Gothic  domes,  crumbling  ruins,  and  blooming  groves.  Let 
us  approach  the  battlements,  and  cast  our  eyes  immediately  below. 
See,  on  this  side  we  have  the  whole  plain  of  the  Alhambra  laid 
open  to  us,  and  can  look  down  into  its  courts  and  gardens.  At 
the  foot  of  the  tower  is  the  Court  of  the  Alberca,  with  its  great 
tank  or  fishpool,  bordered  with  flowers  •  and  yonder  is  the  Court 
of  Lions,  with  its  famous  fountain,  and  its  light  Moorish  arcades ; 
and  in  the  centre  of  the  pile  is  the  little  garden  of  Lindaraxa, 
buried  in  the  heart  of  the  building,  with  its  roses  and  citrons 
and  shrubbery  of  emerald  green. 

That  belt  of  battlements,  studded  with  square  towers,  strag 
gling  round  the  whole  brow  of  the  hill,  is  the  outer  boundary 
of  the  fortress.  Some  of  the  towers,  you  may  perceive,  are  in 
ruins,  and  their  massive  fragments  buried  among  vines,  fig- 
trees,  and  aloes. 

Let  us  look  on  this  northern  side  of  the  tower.  It  is  a  giddy 
height ;  the  very  foundations  of  the  towef  rise  above  the  groves 
of  the  steep  hill-side.  And  see  !  a  long  fissure  in  the  massive 
walls  shows  that  the  tower  has  been  rent  by  some  of  the  earth 
quakes  which  from  time  to  time  have  thrown  Granada  into 
consternation ;  and  which,  sooner  or  later,  must  reduce  this 
crumbling  pile  to  a  mere  mass  of  ruin.  The  deep  narrow  glen 


THE    VALLEY    OF    THE    DARRO  81 

below  us,  which  gradually  widens  as  it  opens  from  the  mountains, 
is  the  valley  of  the  Darro  ;  you  see  the  little  river  winding  its 
way  under  embowered  terraces,  and  among  orchards  and  flower- 
gardens.  It  is  a  stream  famous  in  old  times  for  yielding  gold, 
and  its  sands  are  still  sifted  occasionally,  in  search  of  the  pre 
cious  ore.  Some  of  those  white  pavilions,  which  here  and  there 
gleam  from  among  groves  and  vineyards,  were  rustic  retreats  of 
the  Moors,  to  enjoy  the  refreshments  of  their  gardens.  Well 
have  they  been  compared  by  one  of  their  poets  to  so  many  pearls 
set  in  a  bed  of  emeralds. 

The  airy  palace,  with  its  tall  white  towers  and  long  arcades, 
which  breasts  yon  mountain,  among  pompous  groves  and  hang 
ing  gardens,  is  the  Generalise,  a  summer  palace  of  the  Moorish 
kings,  to  which  they  resorted  during  the  sultry  months  to  enjoy 
a  still  more  breezy  region  than  that  of  the  Alhambra.  The 
naked  summit  of  the  height  above  it,  where  you  behold  some 
shapeless  ruins,  is  the  Silla  del  Moro,  or  seat  of  the  Moor,  so 
called  from  having  been  a  retreat  of  the  unfortunate  Boabdil 
during  the  time  of  an  insurrection,  where  he  seated  himself, 
and  looked  down  mournfully  upon  his  rebellious  city. 

A  murmuring  sound  of  water  now  and  then  rises  from  the 
valley.  It  is  from  the  aqueduct  of  yon  Moorish  mill,  nearly  at 
the  foot  of  the  hill.  The  avenue  of  trees  bejrond  is  the  Ala- 
meda,  along  the  bank  of  the  Darro ;  a  favorite  resort  in  even 
ings,  and  a  rendezvous  of  lovers  in  the  summer  nights,  when 
the  guitar  may  be  heard  at  a  late  hour  from  the  benches  along 
its  walks.  At  present  you  see  none  but  a  few  loitering  monks 
there,  and  a  group  of  water-carriers.  The  latter  are  burdened 
with  water-jars  of  ancient  Oriental  construction,  such  as  were 
used  by  the  Moors.  They  have  been  filled  at  the  cold  and  lim 
pid  spring  called  the  fountain  of  Avellanos.  Yon  mountain 
path  leads  to  the  fountain,  a  favorite  resort  of  Moslems  as  well 
as  Christians ;  for  this  is  said  to  be  the  Adinamar  (Aynu-1- 
adamar),  the  "Fountain  of  Tears,"  mentioned  by  Ibn 


82  THE    ALHAMBRA 

the  traveller,  and  celebrated  in  the  histories  and  romances  of 
the  Moors. 

You  start !  'tis  nothing  but  a  hawk  that  we  have  frightened 
from  his  nest.  This  old  tower  is  a  complete  breeding-place  for 
vagrant  birds  ;  the  swallow  and  martlet  abound  in  every  chink 
and  cranny,  and  circle  about  it  the  whole  day  long ;  while  at 
night,  when  all  other  birds  have  gone  to  rest,  the  moping  owl 
comes  out  of  its  lurking-place,  and  utters  its  boding  cry  from 
the  battlements.  See  how  the  hawk  we  have  dislodged  sweeps 
away  below  us,  skimming  over  the  tops  of  the  trees,  and  sailing 
up  to  the  ruins  above  the  Generalife ! 

I  see  you  raise  your  eyes  to  the  snowy  summit  of  yon  pile  of 
mountains,  shining  like  a  white  summer  cloud  in  the  blue  sky. 
It  is  the  Sierra  Nevada,  the  pride  and  delight  of  Granada ;  the 
source  of  her  cooling  breezes  and  perpetual  verdure;  of  her 
gushing  fountains  and  perennial  streams.  It  is  this  glorious 
pile  of  mountains  which  gives  to  Granada  that  combination  of 
delights  so  rare  in  a  southern  city,  —  the  fresh  vegetation  and 
temperate  airs  of  a  northern  climate,  with  the  vivifying  ardor 
of  a  tropical  sun,  and  the  cloudless  azure  of  a  southern  sky.  It 
is  this  aerial  treasury  of  snow,  which,  melting  in  proportion  to 
the  increase  of  the  summer  heat,  sends  down  rivulets  and  streams 
through  every  glen  and  gorge  of  the  Alpuxarras,  diffusing  em 
erald  verdure  and  fertility  throughout  a  chain  of  happy  and 
sequestered  valleys. 

Those  mountains  may  be  well  called  the  glory  of  Granada. 
They  dominate  the  whole  extent  of  Andalusia,  and  may  be  seen 
from  its  most  distant  parts.  The  muleteer  hails  them,  as  he 
views  their  frosty  peaks  from  the  sultry  level  of  the  plain  ;  and 
the  Spanish  mariner  on  the  deck  of  his  bark,  far,  far  off  on  the 
bosom  of  the  blue  Mediterranean,  watches  them  with  a  pensive 
eye,  thinks  of  delightful  Granada,  and  chants,  in  low  voice, 
some  old  romance  about  the  Moors. 

See  to  the  south  at  the  foot  of  those  mountains  a  line  of  arid 


SANTA    FE  83 

hills,  down  which  a  long  train  of  mules  is  slowly  moving.  Here 
was  the  closing  scene  of  Moslem  domination.  From  the  summit 
of  one  of  those  hills  the  unfortunate  Boabdil  cast  back  his  last 
look  upon  Granada,  and  gave  vent  to  the  agony  of  his  soul.  It 
is  the  spot  famous  in  song  and  story,  "  The  last  sigh  of  the 
Moor." 

Further  this  way  these  arid  hills  slope  down  into  the  luxu 
rious  Vega,  from  which  he  had  just  emerged  :  a  blooming  wilder 
ness  of  grove  and  garden,  and  teeming  orchard,  with  the  Xenil 
winding  through  it  in  silver  links,  and  feeding  innumerable  rills  ; 
which,  conducted  through  ancient  Moorish  channels,  maintain 
the  landscape  in  perpetual  verdure.  Here  were  the  beloved 
bowers  and  gardens,  and  rural  pavilions,  for  which  the  unfortu 
nate  Moors  fought  with  such  desperate  valor.  The  very  hovels 
and  rude  granges,  now  inhabited  by  boors,  show,  by  the  remains 
of  arabesques  and  other  tasteful  decoration,  that  they  were 
elegant  residences  in  the  days  of  the  Moslems.  Behold,  in  the 
very  centre  of  this  eventful  plain,  a  place  which  in  a  manner 
links  the  history  of  the  Old  World  with  that  of  the  New.  Yon 
line  of  walls  and  towers  gleaming  in  the  morning  sun,  is  the 
city  of  Santa  Fe,  built  by  the  Catholic  sovereigns  during  the 
siege  of  Granada,  after  a  conflagration  had  destroyed  their  camp. 
It  was  to  these  walls  Columbus  was  called  back  by  the  heroic 
queen,  and  within  them  the  treaty  was  concluded  which  led  to 
the  discovery  of  the  Western  World.  Behind  yon  promontory 
to  the  west  is  the  bridge  of  Pinos,  renowned  for  many  a  bloody 
fight  between  Moors  and  Christians.  At  this  bridge  the  mes 
senger  overtook  Columbus  when,  despairing  of  success  with  the 
Spanish  sovereigns,  he  was  departing  to  carry  his  project  of  dis 
covery  to  the  court  of  France. 

Above  the  bridge  a  range  of  mountains  bounds  the  Vega  to 
the  west,  —  the  ancient  barrier  between  Granada  and  the  Chris 
tian  territories.  Among  their  heights  you  may  still  discern 
warrior  towns ;  their  gray  walls  and  battlements  seeming  of  a 


84  THE    ALHAMBRA 

piece  with  the  rocks  on  which  they  are  built.  Here  and  there 
a  solitary  atalaya,  or  watchtower,  perched  on  a  mountain  peak, 
looks  down  as  it  were  from  the  sky  into  the  valley  on  either 
side.  How  often  have  these  atalayas  given  notice,  by  fire  at 
night  or  srnoke  by  day,  of  an  approaching  foe  !  It  was  down  a 
cragged  defile  of  these  mountains,  called  the  Pass  of  Lope,  that 
the  Christian  armies  descended  into  the  Vega.  Round  the  base 
of  yon  gray  and  naked  mountain  (the  mountain  of  Elvira),  stretch 
ing  its  bold  rocky  promontory  into  the  bosom  of  the  plain,  the 
invading  squadrons  would  come  bursting  into  view,  with  flaunt 
ing  banners  and  clangor  of  drum  and  trumpet. 

Five  hundred  years  have  elapsed  since  Ismael  ben  Ferrag,  a 
Moorish  king  of  Granada,  beheld  from  this  very  tower  an  in 
vasion  of  the  kind,  and  an  insulting  ravage  of  the  Vega ;  on 
which  occasion  he  displayed  an  instance  of  chivalrous  magna 
nimity,  often  witnessed  in  the  Moslem  princes ;  "  whose  his 
tory,"  says  an  Arabian  writer,  "abounds  in  generous  actions  and 
noble  deeds  that  will  last  through  all  succeeding  ages,  and  live 
forever  in  the  memory  of  man."  —  But  let  us  sit  down  on  this 
parapet,  and  I  will  relate  the  anecdote. 

It  was  in  the  year  of  Grace  1319,  that  Ismael  ben  Ferrag 
beheld  from  this  tower  a  Christian  camp  whitening  the  skirts 
of  yon  mountain  of  Elvira.  The  royal  princes,  Don  Juan  and 
Don  Pedro,  regents  of  Castile  during  the  minority  of  Alphonso 
XL,  had  already  laid  waste  the  country  from  Alcaudete  to 
Alcala  la  Real,  capturing  the  castle  of  Illora,  and  setting  fire 
to  its  suburbs,  and  they  now  carried  their  insulting  ravages  to 
the  very  gates  of  Granada,  defying  the  king  to  sally  forth  and 
give  them  battle. 

Ismael,  though  a  young  and  intrepid  prince,  hesitated  to 
accept  the  challenge.  He  had  not  sufficient  force  at  hand, 
and  awaited  the  arrival  of  troops  summoned  from  the  neighbor 
ing  towns.  The  Christian  princes,  mistaking  his  motives,  gave 
up  all  hope  of  drawing  him  forth,  and  having  glutted  themselves 


ISMAEL    BEN   FEREAG  85 

with  ravage,  struck  their  tents  and  began  their  homeward  march. 
Don  Pedro  led  the  van,  and  Don  Juan  brought  up  the  rear,  but 
their  march  was  confused  and  irregular,  the  army  being  greatly 
encumbered  by  the  spoils  and  captives  they  had  taken. 

By  this  time  King  Ismael  had  received  his  expected  resources, 
and  putting  them  under  the  command  of  Osmyn,  one  of  the 
bravest  of  his  generals,  sent  them  forth  in  hot  pursuit  of  the  en 
emy.  The  Christians  were  overtaken  in  the  defiles  of  the  moun 
tains.  A  panic  seized  them;  they  were  completely  routed, 
and  driven  with  great  slaughter  across  the  borders.  Both  of 
the  princes  lost  their  lives.  The  body  of  Don  Pedro  was 
carried  off  by  his  soldiers,  but  that  of  Don  Juan  was  lost  in 
the  darkness  of  the  night.  His  son  wrote  to  the  Moorish  king, 
entreating  that  the  body  of  his  father  might  be  sought  and 
honorably  treated.  Ismael  forgot  in  a  moment  that  Don  Juan 
was  an  enemy,  who  had  carried  ravage  and  insult  to  the  very 
gate  of  his  capital ;  he  only  thought  of  him  as  a  gallant  cavalier 
and  a  royal  prince:  By  his  command  diligent  search  was  made 
for  the  body.  It  was  found  in  a  barranco  and  brought  to 
Granada.  There  Ismael  caused  it  to  be  laid  out  in  state  on  a 
lofty  bier,  surrounded  by  torches  and  tapers,  in  one  of  these 
halls  of  the  Alhambra.  Osmyn  and  other  of  the  noblest  cava 
liers  were  appointed  as  a  guard  of  honor,  and  the  Christian  cap 
tives  were  assembled  to  pray  around  it. 

In  the  meantime,  Ismael  wrote  to  the  son  of  Prince  Juan  to 
send  a  convoy  for  the  body,  assuring  him  it  should  be  faithfully 
delivered  up.  In  due  time,  a  band  of  Christian  cavaliers  arrived 
for  the  purpose.  They  were  honorably  received  and  entertained 
by  Ismael,  and,  on  their  departure  with  the  body,  the  guard  of 
honor  of  Moslem  cavaliers  escorted  the  funeral  train  to  the  frontier. 

But  enough ;  —  the  sun  is  high  above  the  mountains,  and 
pours  his  full  fervor  on  our  heads.     Already  the  terraced  roof  • 
is  hot  beneath  our  feet ;  let  us  abandon  it,  and  refresh  ourselves 
under  the  Arcades  by  the  Fountain  of  the  Lions. 


86  THE   ALHAMBRA 


THE   TRUANT 

WE  have  had  a  scene  of  a  petty  tribulation  in  the  Alhambra, 
which  has  thrown  a  cloud  over  the  sunny  countenance  of 
Dolores.  This  little  damsel  has  a  female  passion  for  pets  of  all 
kinds ;  and  from  the  superabundant  kindness  of  her  disposition 
one  of  the  ruined  courts  of  the  Alhambra  is  thronged  with  her 
favorites.  A  stately  peacock  and  his  hen  seem  to  hold  regal 
sway  here,  over  pompous  turkeys,  querulous  guinea-fowls,  and 
a  rabble  rout  of  common  cocks  and  hens.  The  great  delight  of 
Dolores,  however,  has  for  some  time  past  been  centred  in  a 
youthful  pair  of  pigeons,  who  have  lately  entered  into  the  holy 
state  of  wedlock,  and  even  supplanted  a  tortoise-shell  cat  and 
kittens  in  her  affection. 

As  a  tenement  for  them  wherein  to  commence  housekeeping, 
she  had  fitted  up  a  small  chamber  adjacent  to  the  kitchen,  the 
window  of  which  looked  into  one  of  the  quiet  Moorish  courts. 
Here  they  lived  in  happy  ignorance  of  any  world  beyond  the 
court  and  its  sunny  roofs.  Never  had  they  aspired  to  soar 
above  the  battlements,  or  to  mount  to  the  summit  of  the 
towers.  Their  virtuous  union  was  at  length  crowned  by  two 
spotless  and  milk-white  eggs,  to  the  great  joy  of  their  cherishing 
little  mistress.  Nothing  could  be  more  praiseworthy  than  the 
conduct  of  the  young  married  folks  on  this  interesting  occasion. 
They  took  turns  to  sit  upon  the  nest  until  the  eggs  were 
hatched,  and  while  their  callow  progeny  required  warmth  and 
shelter ;  —  while  one  thus  stayed  at  home,  the  other  foraged 
abroad  for  food,  and  brought  home  abundant  supplies. 

This  scene  of  conjugal  felicity  has  suddenly  met  with  a  re 
verse.  Early  this  morning,  as  Dolores  was  feeding  the  male 
•  pigeon,  she  took  a  fancy  to  give  him  a  peep  at  the  great  world. 
Opening  a  window,  therefore,  which  looks  down  upon  the 
valley  of  the  Darro,  she  launched  him  at  once  beyond  the  walls 


THE    TRUANT  87 

of  the  Alhambra.  For  the  first  time  in  his  life  the  astonished 
bird  had  to  try  the  full  vigor  of  his  wings.  He  swept  down 
into  the  valley,  and  then  rising  upwards  with  a  surge,  soared 
almost  to  the  clouds.  Never  before  had  he  risen  to  such  a 
height,  or  experienced  such  delight  in  flying ;  and,  like  a  young 
spendthrift  just  come  to  his  estate,  he  seemed  giddy  with  excess 
of  liberty,  and  with  the  boundless  field  of  action  suddenly  opened 
to  him.  For  the  whole  day  he  has  been  circling  about  in 
capricious  flights,  from  tower  to  tower,  and  tree  to  tree. 
Every  attempt  has  been  vain  to  lure  him  back  by  scattering 
grain  upon  the  roofs ;  he  seems  to  have  lost  all  thought  of 
home,  of  his  tender  helpmate,  and  his  callow  young.  To  add  to 
the  anxiety  of  Dolores,  he  has  been  joined  by  two  palomas 
ladrones,  or  robber  pigeons,  whose  instinct  it  is  to  entice  wan 
dering  pigeons  to  their  own  dove-cotes.  The  fugitive,  like  many 
other  thoughtless  youths  on  their  first  launching  upon  the  world, 
seems  quite  fascinated  with  these  knowing  but  graceless  com 
panions,  who  have  undertaken  to  show  him  life,  and  introduce 
him  to  society.  He  has  been  soaring  with  them  over  all  the 
roofs  and  steeples  of  Granada.  A  thunder-storm  has  passed 
over  the  city,  but  he  has  not  sought  his  home ;  night  has 
closed  in,  and  still  he  comes  not.  To  deepen  the  pathos  of  the 
affair,  the  female  pigeon,  after  remaining  several  hours  on  the 
nest  without  being  relieved,  at  length  went  forth  to  seek  her 
recreant  mate ;  but  stayed  away  so  long  that  the  young  ones 
perished  for  want  of  the  warmth  and  shelter  of  the  parent 
bosom.  At  a  late  hour  in  the  evening,  word  was  brought  to 
Dolores  that  the  truant  bird  had  been  seen  upon  the  towers  of 
the  Generalife.  Now  it  happens  that  the  Administrador  of 
that  ancient  palace  has  likewise  a  dove-cote,  among  the  inmates 
of  which  are  said  to  be  two  or  three  of  these  inveigling  birds, 
the  terror  of  all  neighboring  pigeon-fanciers.  Dolores  immedi 
ately  concluded  that  the  two  feathered  sharpers  who  had  been 
seen  with  her  fugitive  were  these  bloods  of  the  Generalife.  A 


88  THE   ALHAMBRA 

council  of  war  was  forthwith  held  in  the  chamber  of  Tia 
Antonia.  The  Generalife  is  a  distinct  jurisdiction  from  the 
Al ham  bra,  and  of  course  some  punctilio,  if  not  jealousy,  exists 
between  their  custodians.  It  was  determined,  therefore,  to  send 
Pepe,  the  stuttering  lad  of  the  gardens,  as  ambassador  to  the 
Administrador,  requesting  that  if  such  fugitive  should  be  found 
in  his  dominions,  he  might  be  given  up  as  a  subject  of  the 
Alhambra.  Pepe  departed  accordingly,  on  his  diplomatic  expe 
dition,  through  the  moonlit  groves  and  avenues,  but  returned  in 
an  hour  with  the  afflicting  intelligence  that  no  such  bird  was 
to  be  found  in  the  dove-cote  of  the  Generalife.  The  Admin 
istrador,  however,  pledged  his  sovereign  word  that  if  such 
vagrant  should  appear  there,  even  at  midnight,  he  should  be 
instantly  arrested  and  sent  back  prisoner  to  his  little  black-eyed 
mistress. 

Thus  stands  the  melancholy  affair  which  has  occasioned 
much  distress  throughout  the  palace,  and  has  sent  the  incon 
solable  Dolores  to  a  sleepless  pillow. 

"Sorrow  endureth  for  a  night,"  says  the  proverb,  "but 

joy  cometh  in  the  morning."  The  first  object  that  met  my 
eyes,  on  leaving  my  room  this  morning,  was  Dolores,  with  the 
truant  pigeon  in  her  hands,  and  her  eyes  sparkling  with  joy. 
He  had  appeared  at  an  early  hour  on  the  battlements,  hovering 
shyly  about  from  roof  to  roof,  but  at  length  entered  the  win 
dow,  and  surrendered  himself  prisoner.  He  gained  little  credit, 
however,  by  his  return ;  for  the  ravenous  manner  in  which  he 
devoured  the  food  set  before  him  showed  that,  like  the  prodigal 
son,  he  had  been  driven  home  by  sheer  famine.  Dolores  up 
braided  him  for  his  faithless  conduct,  calling  him  all  manner 
of  vagrant  names,  though,  womanlike,  she  fondled  him  at  the 
same  time  to  her  bosom  and  covered  him  with  kisses.  I  ob 
served,  however,  that  she  had  taken  care  to  clip  his  wings  to 
prevent  all  future  soarings ;  a  precaution  which  I  mention  for 
the  benefit  of  all  those  who  have  truant  lovers  or  wandering 


THE   BALCONY  89 

husbands.    More  than  one  valuable  moral  might  be  drawn  from 
the  story  of  Dolores  and  her  pigeon. 


THE  BALCONY 

I  HAVE  spoken  of  a  balcony  of  the  central  window  of  the 
Hall  of  Ambassadors.  It  served  as  a  kind  of  observatory, 
where  I  used  often  to  take  my  seat,  and  consider  not  merely  the 
heaven  above  but  the  earth  beneath.  Besides  the  magnificent 
prospect  which  it  commanded  of  mountain,  valley,  and  vega, 
there  was  a  little  busy  scene  of  human  life  laid  open  to  inspec 
tion  immediately  below.  At  the  foot  of  the  hill  was  an  alameda, 
or  public  walk,  which,  though  not  so  fashionable  as  the  more 
modern  and  splendid  paseo  of  the  Xenil,  still  boasted  a  varied 
and  picturesque  concourse.  Hither  resorted  the  small  gentry 
of  the  suburbs,  together  with  priests  and  friars,  who  walked 
for  appetite  and  digestion ;  majos  and  majas,  the  beaux  and 
belles  of  the  lower  classes,  in  their  Andalusian  dresses ;  swagger 
ing  contrabandistas,  and  sometimes  half-muffled  and  mysterious 
loungers  of  the  higher  ranks,  on  some  secret  assignation. 

It  was  a  moving  picture  of  Spanish  life  and  character,  which 
I  delighted  to  study ;  and  as  the  astronomer  has  his  grand  tele 
scope  with  which  to  sweep  the  skies,  and,  as  it  were,  bring  the 
stars  nearer  for  his  inspection,  so  I  had  a  smaller  one,  of  pocket 
size,  for  the  use  of  my  observatory,  with  which  I  could  sweep 
the  regions  below,  and  bring  the  countenances  of  the  motley 
groups  so  close  as  almost,  at  times,  to  make  me  think  I^coula 
divine  their  conversation  by  the  play  and  expression  of  their 
features.  I  was  thus,  in  a  manner,  an  invisible  observer,  and, 
without  quitting  my  solitude,  could  throw  myself  in  an  instant 
into  the  midst  of  society,  —  a  rare  advantage  to  one  of  some 
what  shy  and  quiet  habits,  and  fond,  like  myself,  of  observing 
the  drama  of  life  without  becoming  an  actor  in  the  scene. 


90  THE    ALHAMBRA 

There  was  a  considerable  suburb  lying  below  the  Alhambra, 
filling  the  narrow  gorge  of  the  valley,  and  extending  up  the 
opposite  hill  of  the  Albaycin.  Many  of  the  houses  were  built 
in  the  Moorish  style,  round  patios,  or  courts,  cooled  by  fountains 
and  open  to  the  sky ;  and  as  the  inhabitants  passed  much  of 
their  time  in  these  courts,  and  on  the  terraced  roofs  during  the 
summer  season,  it  follows  that  many  a  glance  at  their  domestic 
life  might  be  obtained  by  an  aerial  spectator  like  myself,  who 
could  look  down  on  them  from  the  clouds. 

I  enjoyed  in  some  degree  the  advantages  of  the  student  in 
the  famous  old  Spanish  story,  who  beheld  all  Madrid  unroofed 
for  his  inspection ;  and  my  gossiping  squire,  Mateo  Ximenes, 
officiated  occasionally  as  my  Asmodeus,  to  give  me  anecdotes  of 
the  different  mansions  and  their  inhabitants. 

I  preferred,  however,  to  form  conjectural  histories  for  myself, 
and  thus  would  sit  for  hours,  weaving,  from  casual  incidents 
and  indications  passing  under  my  eye,  a  whole  tissue  of  schemes, 
intrigues,  and  occupations  of  the  busy  mortals  below.  There 
was  scarce  a  pretty  face  or  a  striking  figure  that  I  daily  saw, 
about  which  I  had  not  thus  gradually  framed  a  dramatic  story, 
though  some  of  my  characters  would  occasionally  act  in  direct 
opposition  to  the  part  assigned  them,  and  disconcert  the  whole 
drama.  Reconnoitring  one  day  with  my  glass  the  streets  of  the 
Albaycin,  I  beheld  the  procession  of  a  novice  about  to  take 
the  veil;  and  remarked  several  circumstances  which  excited 
the  strongest  sympathy  in  the  fate  of  the  youthful  being  thus 
about  to  be  consigned  to  a  living  tomb.  I  ascertained  to  my 
satisfaction  that  she  was  beautiful,  and,  from  the  paleness  of 
her  cheek,  that  she  was  a  victim  rather  than  a  votary.  She 
was  arrayed  in  bridal  garments,  and  decked  with  a  chaplet  of 
white  flowers,  but  her  heart  evidently  revolted  at  this  mockery 
of  a  spiritual  union,  and  yearned  after  its  earthly  loves.  A  tall 
stern-looking  man  walked  near  her  in  the  procession  :  it  was, 
of  course,  the  tyrannical  father,  who,  from  some  bigoted  or 


TAKING    THE    VEIL  91 

sordid  motive,  had  compelled  this  sacrifice.  Amid  the  crowd 
was  a  dark  handsome  youth,  in  Andalusian  garb,  who  seemed 
to  fix  on  her  an  eye  of  agony.  It  was  doubtless  the  secret 
lover  from  whom  she  was  forever  to  be  separated.  My  indigna 
tion  rose  as  I  noted  the  malignant  expression  painted  on  the 
countenances  of  the  attendant  monks  and  friars.  The  procession 
arrived  at  the  chapel  of  the  convent ;  the  sun  gleamed  for  the 
last  time  upon  the  chaplet  of  the  poor  novice,  as  she  crossed 
the  fatal  threshold  and  disappeared  within  the  building.  The 
throng  poured  in  with  cowl,  and  cross,  and  minstrelsy ;  the 
lover  paused  for  a  moment  at  the  door.  I  could  divine  the 
tumult  of  his  feelings ;  but  he  mastered  them,  and  entered. 
There  was  a  long  interval.  I  pictured  to  myself  the  scene  pass 
ing  within  :  the  poor  novice  despoiled  of  her  transient  finery, 
and  clothed  in  the  conventual  garb ;  the  bridal  chaplet  taken 
from  her  brow,  and  her  beautiful  head  shorn  of  its  long  silken 
tresses.  I  heard  her  murmur  the  irrevocable  vow.  I  saw  her 
extended  on  a  bier ;  the  death-pall  spread  over  her ;  the  funeral 
service  performed  that  proclaimed  her  dead  to  the  world ;  her 
sighs  were  drowned  in  the  deep  tones  of  the  organ,  and  the 
plaintive  requiem  of  the  nuns ;  the  father  looked  on,  unmoved, 
without  a  tear ;  the  lover  —  no  —  my  imagination  refused  to 
portray  the  anguish  of  the  lover  —  there  the  picture  remained 
a  blank. 

After  a  time  the  throng  again  poured  forth,  and  dispersed 
various  ways,  to  enjoy  the  light  of  the  sun  and  mingle  with  the 
stirring  scenes  of  life ;  but  the  victim,  with  her  bridal  chaplet, 
was  no  longer  there.  The  door  of  the  convent  closed  that  sev 
ered  her  from  the  world  forever.  I  saw  the  father  and  the 
lover  issue  forth ;  they  were  in  earnest  conversation.  The 
latter  was  vehement  in  .his  gesticulations;  I  expected  some 
violent  termination  to  my  drama ;  but  an  angle  of  a  building 
interfered  and  closed  the  scene.  My  eye  afterwards  was  fre 
quently  turned  to  that  convent  with  painful  interest.  I  re- 


92  THE    ALHAMBRA 

marked  late  at  night  a  solitary  light  twinkling  from  a  remote 
lattice  of  one  of  its  towers.  "  There,"  said  I,  "  the  unhappy 
nun  sits  weeping  in  her  cell,  while  perhaps  her  lover  paces  the 
street  below  in  unavailing  anguish." 

—  The  officious  Mateo  interrupted  my  meditations  and  de 
stroyed  in  an  instant  the  cobweb  tissue  of  my  fancy.     With  his 
usual  zeal  he  had  gathered  facts  concerning  the  scene,  which 
put  my  fictions  all  to  flight.     The  heroine  of  my  romance  was 
neither   young   nor   handsome ;    she   had   no   lover ;    she   had 
entered  the  convent  of  her  own  free  will,  as   a   respectable 
asylum,  and  was  one  of  the  most  cheerful  residents  within  its 
walls. 

It  was  some  little  while  before  I  could  forgive  the  wrong 
done  me  by  the  nun  in  being  thus  happy  in  her  cell,  in  contra 
diction  to  all  the  rules  of  romance ;  I  diverted  my  spleen,  how 
ever,  by  watching,  for  a  day  or  two,  the  pretty  coquetries  of  a 
dark-eyed  brunette,  who,  from  the  covert  of  a  balcony  shrouded 
with  flowering  shrubs  and  a  silken  awning,  was  carrying  on  a 
mysterious  correspondence  with  a  handsome,  dark,  well-whisk 
ered  cavalier,  who  lurked  frequently  in  the  street  beneath  her 
window.  Sometimes  I  saw  him  at  an  early  hour,  stealing  forth 
wrapped  to  the  eyes  in  a  mantle.  Sometimes  he  loitered  at  a 
corner,  in  various  disguises,  apparently  waiting  for  a  private 
signal  to  slip  into  the  house.  Then  there  was  the  tinkling 
of  a  guitar  at  night  and  a  lantern  shifted  from  place  to 
place  in  the  balcony.  I  imagined  another  intrigue  like  that 
of  Almaviva,  but  was  again  disconcerted  in  all  my  supposi 
tions.  The  supposed  lover  turned  out  to  be  the  husband  of 
the  lady,  and  a  noted  contrabandista ;  and  all  his  mysterious 
signs  and  movements  had  doubtless  some  smuggling  scheme  in 
view. 

—  I  occasionally  amused  myself  with  noting  from  this  bal 
cony  the  gradual  changes  of  the  scenes  below,  according  to  the 
different  stages  of  the  day. 


THE    CHANGES    OF    THE   DAY  93 

Scarce  has  the  gray  dawn  streaked  the  sky,  and  the  earliest 
cock  crowed  from  the  cottages  of  the  hill-side,  when  the  suburbs 
give  sign  of  reviving  animation ;  for  the  fresh  hours  of  dawning 
are  precious  in  the  summer  season  in  a  sultry  climate.  All  are 
anxious  to  get  the  start  of  the  sun,  in  the  business  of  the  day. 
The  muleteer  drives  forth  his  loaded  train  for  the  journey ;  the 
traveller  slings  his  carbine  behind  his  saddle,  and  mounts  his 
steed  at  the  gate  of  the  hostel ;  the  brown  peasant  from  the 
country  urges  forward  his  loitering  beasts,  laden  with  panniers 
of  sunny  fruit  and  fresh  dewy  vegetables,  for  already  the  thrifty 
housewives  are  hastening  to  the  market. 

The  sun  is  up  and  sparkles  along  the  valley,  tipping  the 
transparent  foliage  of  the  groves.  The  matin  bells  resound 
melodiously  through  the  pure  bright  air,  announcing  the  hour 
of  devotion.  The  muleteer  halts  his  burdened  animals  before 
the  chapel,  thrusts  his  staff  through  his  belt  behind,  and  enters 
with  hat  in  hand,  smoothing  his  coal-black  hair,  to  hear  a  mass, 
and  to  put  up  a  prayer  for  a  prosperous  wayfaring  across  the 
sierra.  And  now  steals  forth  on  fairy  foot  the  gentle  Senora, 
in  trim  basquina,  with  restless  fan  in  hand,  and  dark  eye  flash 
ing  from  beneath  the  gracefully  folded  mantilla ;  she  seeks  some 
well-frequented  church  to  offer  up  her  morning  orisons  ;  but  the 
nicely  adjusted  dress,  the  dainty  shoe  and  cobweb  stocking,  the 
raven  tresses  exquisitely  braided,  the  fresh-plucked  rose,  gleam 
ing  among  them  like  a  gem,  show  that  earth  divides  with  Heaven 
the  empire  of  her  thoughts.  Keep  an  eye  upon  her,  careful 
mother,  or  virgin  aunt,  or  vigilant  duenna,  whichever  you  may 
be,  that  walk  behind  ! 

As  the  morning  advances,  the  din  of  labor  augments  on  every 
side ;  the  streets  are  thronged  with  man,  and  steed,  and  beast 
of  burden,  and  there  is  a  hum  and  murmur,  like  the  surges  of 
the  ocean.  As  the  sun  ascends  to  his  meridian,  the  hum  and 
bustle  gradually  decline ;  at  the  height  of  noon  there  is  a  pause. 
The  panting  city  sinks  into  lassitude,  and  for  several  hours 


94  THE    ALHAMBRA 

there  is  a  general  repose.  The  windows  are  closed,  the  curtains 
drawn,  the  inhabitants  retired  into  the  coolest  recesses  of  their 
mansions;  the  full-fed  monk  snores  in  his  dormitory;  the 
brawny  porter  lies  stretched  on  the  pavement  beside  his  burden ; 
the  peasant  and  the  laborer  sleep  beneath  the  trees  of  the  Ala- 
meda,  lulled  by  the  sultry  chirping  of  the  locust.  The  streets 
are  deserted,  except  by  the  water-carrier,  who  refreshes  the  ear 
by  proclaiming  the  merits  of  his  sparkling  beverage,  "colder 
than  the  mountain  snow  "  (mas  fria  que  la  nieve). 

As  the  sun  declines,  there  is  again  a  gradual  reviving,  and 
when  the  vesper  bell  rings  out  his  sinking  knell,  all  nature  seems 
to  rejoice  that  the  t/rant  of  the  day  has  fallen.  Now  begins 
the  bustle  of  enjoyment,  when  the  citizens  pour  forth  to  breathe 
the  evening  air,  and  revel  away  the  brief  twilight  in  the  walks 
and  gardens  of  the  Darrow  and  Xenil. 

As  night  closes,  the  capricious  scene  assumes  new  features. 
Light  after  light  gradually  twinkles  forth  ;  here  a  taper  from  a 
balconied  window ;  there  a  votive  lamp  before  the  image  of  a 
Saint.  Thus,  by  degrees,  the  city  emerges  from  the  pervading 
gloom,  and  sparkles  with  scattered  lights,  like  the  starry  firma 
ment.  Now  break  forth  from  court  and  garden,  and  street  and 
lane,  the  tinkling  of  innumerable  guitars,  and  the  clicking  of 
castanets ;  blending,  at  this  lofty  height,  in  a  faint  but  general 
concert.  "  Enjoy  the  moment "  is  the  creed  of  the  gay  and 
amorous  Andalusian,  and  at  no  time  does  he  practise  it  more 
zealously  than  on  the  balmy  nights  of  summer,  wooing  his 
mistress  with  the  dance,  the  love-ditty,  and  the  passionate 
serenade. 

I  was  one  evening  seated  in  the  balcony,  enjoying  the  light 
breeze  that  came  rustling  along  the  side  of  the  hill,  among  the 
tree- tops,  when  my  humble  historiographer  Mateo,  who  was  at 
my  elbow,  pointed  out  a  spacious  house,  in  an  obscure  street  of 
the  Albaycin,  about  which  he  related,  as  nearly  as  I  can  recol 
lect,  the  following  anecdote. 


THE    ADVENTURE    OF    THE    MASON  95 


THE   ADVENTURE   OF   THE   MASON 

"  THEEE  was  once  upon  a  time  a  poor  mason,  or  bricklayer,  in 
Granada,  who  kept  all  the  saints'  days  and  holidays,  and  Saint 
Monday  into  the  bargain,  and  yet,  with  all  his  devotion,  he 
grew  poorer  and  poorer,  and  could  scarcely  earn  bread  for  his 
numerous  family.  One  night  he  was  roused  from  his  first  sleep 
by  a  knocking  at  his  door.  He  opened  it,  and  beheld  before 
him  a  tall,  meagre,  cadaverous-looking  priest. 

"  '  Hark  ye,  honest  friend  ! '  said  the  stranger ;  '  I  have  ob 
served  that  you  are  a  good  Christian,  and  one  to  be  trusted  ; 
will  you  undertake  a  job  this  very  night  ? ' 

" '  With  all  my  heart,  Senor  Padre,  on  condition  that  I  am 
paid  accordingly.' 

"  *  That  you  shall  be ;  but  you  must  suffer  yourself  to  be 
blindfolded.' 

"To  this  the  mason  made  no  objection.  So,  being  hood 
winked,  he  was  led  by  the  priest  through  various  rough  lanes 
and  winding  passages,  until  they  stopped  before  the  portal  of  a 
house.  The  priest  then  applied  a  key,  turned  a  creaking  lock, 
and  opened  what  sounded  like  a  ponderous  door.  They  entered, 
the  door  was  closed  and  bolted,  and  the  mason  was  conducted 
through  an  echoing  corridor  and  a  spacious  hall  to  an  interior 
part  of  the  building.  Here  the  bandage  was  removed  from  his 
eyes,  and  he  found  himself  in  a  patio,  or  court,  dimly  lighted  by 
a  single  lamp.  In  the  centre  was  the  dry  basin  of  an  old  Moor 
ish  fountain,  under  which  the  priest  requested  him  to  form  a 
small  vault,  bricks  and  mortar  being  at  hand  for  the  purpose. 
He  accordingly  worked  all  night,  but  without  finishing  the  job. 
Just  before  daybreak  the  priest  put  a  piece  of  gold  into  his 
hand,  and  having  again  blindfolded  him,  conducted  him  back  to 
his  dwelling. 

"'Are  you  willing,'  said  he,  'to  return  and  complete  your  work?' 


96  THE   ALHAMBEA 

"  '  Gladly,  Sen  or  Padre,  provided  I  am  so  well  paid.' 

" 4  Well,  then,  to-morrow  at  midnight  I  will  call  again/ 

"  He  did  so>  and  the  vault  was  completed. 

"  'Now,'  said  the  priest,  'you  must  help  me  to  bring  forth 
the  bodies  that  are  to  be  buried  in  this  vault.' 

"The  poor  mason's  hair  rose  on  his  head  at  these  words  :  he 
followed  the  priest,  with  trembling  steps,  into  a  retired  chamber 
of  the  mansion,  expecting  to  behold  some  ghastly  spectacle  of 
death,  but  was  relieved  on  perceiving  three  or  four  portly  jars 
standing  in  one  corner.  They  were  evidently  full  of  money,  and 
it  was  with  great  labor  that  he  and  the  priest  carried  them  forth 
and  consigned  them  to  their  tomb.  The  vault  was  then  closed, 
the  pavement  replaced,  and  all  traces  of  the  work  were  obliter 
ated.  The  mason  was  again  hoodwinked  and  led  forth  by  a 
route  different  from  that  by  which  he  had  come.  After  they 
had  wandered  for  a  long  time  through  a  perplexed  maze  of  lanes 
and  alleys,  they  halted.  The  priest  then  put  two  pieces  of  gold 
into  his  hand:  'Wait  here,'  said  he,  'until  you  hear  the  cathe 
dral  bell  toll  for  matins.  If  you  presume  to  uncover  your  eyes 
before  that  time,  evil  will  befall  you  : '  so  saying,  he  departed. 
The  mason  waited  faithfully,  amusing  himself  by  weighing  the 
gold  pieces  in  his  hand,  and  clinking  them  against  each  other. 
The  moment  the  cathedral  bell  rang  its  matin  peal,  he  uncovered 
his  eyes,  and  found  himself  on  the  banks  of  the  Xenil ;  whence 
he  made  the  best  of  his  way  home,  and  revelled  with  his  family 
for  a  whole  fortnight  on  the  profits  of  his  two  nights'  work ; 
after  which  he  was  as  poor  as  ever. 

"He  continued  to  work  a  little,  and  pray  a  good  deal,  and 
keep  saints'  days  and  holidays,  from  year  to  year,  while  his 
family  grew  up  as  gaunt  and  ragged  as  a  crew  of  gipsies.  As 
he  was  seated  one  evening  at  the  door  of  his  hovel,  he  was  ac 
costed  by  a  rich  old  curmudgeon,  who  was  noted  for  owning  many 
houses,  and  being  a  griping  landlord.  The  man  of  money  eyed  him 
for  a  moment  from  beneath  a  pair  of  anxious  shagged  eyebrows. 


THE   ADVENTURE    OF    THE    MASON  97 

"  '  I  am  told,  friend,  that  you  are  very  poor.' 
"  '  There  is  no  denying  the  fact,  senor,  — it  speaks  for  itself 
" 1 1  presume,  then,  that  you  will  be  glad  of  a  job,  and  will 
work  cheap.' 

"  l  As  cheap,  my  master,  as  any  mason  in  Granada.' 
" '  That's  what   I  want.     I  have   an  old  house  fallen  into 
decay,  which  costs  me  more  money  than  it  is  worth  to  keep  it 
in  repair,  for  nobody  will  live  in  it ;  so  I  must  contrive  to  patch 
it  up  and  keep  it  together  at  as  small  expense  as  possible.' 

"  The  mason  was  accordingly  conducted  to  a  large  deserted 
house  that  seemed  going  to  ruin.  Passing  through  several 
empty  halls  and  chambers,  he  entered  an  inner  court,  where 
his  eye  was  caught  by  an  old  Moorish  fountain.  He  paused 
for  a  moment,  for  a  dreaming  recollection  of  the  place  came  over 
him. 

"  'Pray,'  said  he,  c  who  occupied  this  house  formerly  ?' 
" '  A  pest  upon  him ! '  cried  the  landlord ;  '  it  was  an  old 
miserly  priest,  who  cared  for  nobody  but  himself.  He  was 
said  to  be  immensely  rich,  and,  having  no  relations,  it  was 
thought  he  would  leave  all  his  treasures  to  the  Church.  He 
died  suddenly,  and  the  priests  and  friars  thronged  to  take  pos 
session  of  his  wealth ;  but  nothing  could  they  find  but  a  few 
ducats  in  a  leathern  purse.  The  worst  luck  has  fallen  on  me, 
for,  since  his  death,  the  old  fellow  continues  to  occupy  my  house 
without  paying  rent,  and  there  is  no  taking  the  law  of  a  dead 
man.  The  people  pretend  to  hear  the  clinking  of  gold  all  night 
in  the  chamber  where  the  old  priest  slept,  as  if  he  were  count 
ing  over  his  money,  and  sometimes  a  groaning  and  moaning 
about  the  court.  Whether  true  or  false,  these  stories  have 
brought  a  bad  name  on  my  house,  and  not  a  tenant  will  remain 
in  it.' 

"Enough,"  said  the  mason  sturdily:  'let  me  live  in  your 
house  rent-free  until  some  better  tenant  present,  and  I  will 
engage  to  put  it  in  repair,  and  to  quiet  the  troubled  spirit  that 


98  THE    ALHAMBRA 

disturbs  it.  I  am  a  good  Christian  and  a  poor  man,  and  am 
not  to  be  daunted  by  the  Devil  himself,  even  though  he  should 
come  in  the  shape  of  a  big  bag  of  money  ! ' 

"  The  offer  of  the  honest  mason  was  gladly  accepted ;  he 
moved  with  his  family  into  the  house,  and  fulfilled  all  his  en 
gagements.  By  little  and  little  he  restored  it  to  its  former 
state ;  the  clinking  of  gold  was  no  more  heard  at  night  in  the 
chamber  of  the  defunct  priest,  but  began  to  be  heard  by  day  in 
the  pocket  of  the  living  mason.  In  a  word,  he  increased 
rapidly  in  wealth,  to  the  admiration  of  all  his  neighbors,  and  be 
came  one  of  the  richest  men  in  Granada  :  he  gave  large  sums  to 
the  Church,  by  way,  no  doubt,  of  satisfying  his  conscience,  and 
never  revealed  the  secret  of  the  vault  until  on  his  death-bed  to 
his  son  and  heir." 


THE   COURT   OF   LIONS 

THE  peculiar  charm  of  this  old  dreamy  palace  is  its  power 
of  calling  up  vague  reveries  and  picturings  of  the  past,  and  thus 
clothing  naked  realities  with  the  illusions  of  the  memory 
and  the  imagination.  As  I  delight  to  walk  in  these  "  vain 
shadows,"  I  am  prone  to  seek  those  parts  of  the  Alhambra 
which  are  most  favorable  to  this  phantasmagoria  of  the  mind ; 
and  none  are  more  so  than  the  Court  of  Lions,  and  its  surround 
ing  halls.  Here  the  hand  of  time  has  fallen  the  lightest,  and 
the  traces  of  Moorish  elegance  and  splendor  exist  in  almost 
their  original  brilliancy.  Earthquakes  have  shaken  the  founda 
tions  of  this  pile,  and  rent  its  rudest  towers ;  yet  see  !  not  one 
of  those  slender  columns  has  been  displaced,  not  an  arch  of  that 
light  and  fragile  colonnade  given  way,  and  all  the  fairy  fretwork 
of  these  domes,  apparently  as  unsubstantial  as  the  crystal  fabrics 
of  a  morning's  frost,  exist  after  the  lapse  of  centuries,  almost  as 
fresh  as  if  from  the  hand  of  the  Moslem  artists.  I  write  in  the 


THE    COURT    OF   LIONS  99% 

midst  of  these  mementos  of  the  past,  in  the  fresh  hour  of  early 
morning,  in  the  fated  Hall  of  the  Abencerrages.  The  blood 
stained  fountain,  the  legendary  monument  of  their  massacre,  is 
before  me ;  the  lofty  jet  almost  casts  its  dew  upon  my  paper. 
How  difficult  to  reconcile  the  ancient  tale  of  violence  and  blood 
with  the  gentle  and  peaceful  scene  around !  Everything  here 
appears  calculated  to  inspire  kind  and  happy  feelings,  for  every 
thing  is  delicate  and  beautiful.  The  very  light  falls  tenderly 
from  above,  through  the  lantern  of  a  dome  tinted  and  wrought 
as  if  by  fairy  hands.  Through  the  ample  and  fretted  arch  of 
the  portal  I  behold  the  Court  of  Lions,  with  brilliant  sunshine 
gleaming  along  its  colonnades  and  sparkling  in  its  fountains. 
The  lively  swallow  dives  into  the  court,  and,  rising  with  a  surge, 
darts  away  twittering  over  the  roofs ;  the  busy  bee  toils  hum 
ming  among  the  flower-beds ;  and  painted  butterflies  hover  from 
plant  to  plant,  and  flutter  up  and  sport  with  each  other  in  the 
sunny  air.  It  needs  but  a  slight  exertion  of  the  fancy  to  picture 
some  pensive  beauty  of  the  harem,  loitering  in  these  secluded 
haunts  of  Oriental  luxury. 

He,  however,  who  would  behold  this  scene  under  an  aspect 
more  in  unison  with  its  fortunes,  let  him  come  when  the  shadows 
of  evening  temper  the  brightness  of  the  court,  and  throw  a  gloom 
into  the  surrounding  halls.  Then  nothing  can  be  more  serenely 
melancholy,  or  more  in  harmony  with  the  tale  of  departed 
grandeur. 

At  such  times  I  am  apt  to  seek  the  Hall  of  Justice,  whose 
deep  shadowy  arcades  extend  across  the  upper  end  of  the  court. 
Here  was  performed,  in  presence  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  and 
their  triumphant  court,  the  pompous  ceremonial  of  high  mass, 
on  taking  possession  of  the  Alhambra.  The  very  cross  is  still 
to  be  seen  upon  the  wall,  where  the  altar  was  erected,  and  where 
officiated  the  Grand  Cardinal  of  Spain,  and  others  of  the  highest 
religious  dignitaries  of  the  land.  I  picture  to  myself  the  scene 
when  this  place  was  filled  with  the  conquering  host,  that  mix- 


100  THE    ALHAMBRA 

tare  of  mitred  prelate  and  shaven  monk,  and  steel-clad  knight 
and  silken  courtier ;  when  crosses  and  crosiers  and  religious 
standards  were  mingled  with  proud  armorial  ensigns  and  the 
banners  of  the  haughty  chiefs  of  Spain,  and  flaunted  in  triumph 
through  these  Moslem  halls.  I  picture  to  myself  Columbus, 
the  future  discoverer  of  a  world,  taking  his  modest  stand  in  a 
remote  corner,  the  humble  and  neglected  spectator  of  the  pageant. 
I  see  in  imagination  the  Catholic  sovereigns  prostrating  them 
selves  before  the  altar,  and  pouring  forth  thanks  for  their  vic 
tory  ;  while  the  vaults  resound  with  sacred  minstrelsy,  and  the 
deep-toned  Te  Deum. 

The  transient  illusion  is  over,  —  the  pageant  melts  from  the 
fancy,  —  monarch,  priest,  and  warrior  return  into  oblivion  with 
the  poor  Moslems  over  whom  they  exulted.  The  hall  of  their 
triumph  is  waste  and  desolate.  The  bat  flits  about  its  twilight 
vault,  and  the  owl  hoots  from  the  neighboring  tower  of  Comares. 

Entering  the  Court  of  the  Lions  a  few  evenings  since,  I  was 
almost  startled  at  beholding  a  turbaned  Moor  quietly  seated  near 
the  fountain.  For  a  moment  one  of  the  fictions  of  the  place 
seemed  realized :  an  enchanted  Moor  had  broken  the  spell  of 
centuries,  and  become  visible.  He  proved,  however,  to  be  a 
mere  ordinary  mortal :  a  native  of  Tetuan  in  Barbary,  who  had 
a  shop  in  the  Zacatin  of  Granada,  where  he  sold  rhubarb,  trinkets, 
and  perfumes.  As  he  spoke  Spanish  fluently,  I  was  enabled  to 
hold  conversation  with  him,  and  found  him  shrewd  and  intelli 
gent.  He  told  me  that  he  came  up  the  hill  occasionally  in  the 
summer,  to  pass  a  part  of  the  day  in  the  Alhambra,  which  re 
minded  him  of  the  old  palaces  in  Barbary,  being  built  and 
adorned  in  similar  style,  though  with  more  magnificence. 

As  we  walked  about  the  palace,  he  pointed  out  several  of  the 
Arabic  inscriptions,  as  possessing  much  poetic  beauty. 

"  Ah,  senor,"  said  he,  "  when  the  Moors  held  Granada,  they 
were  a  gayer  people  than  they  are  nowadays.  They  thought 
only  of  love,  music,  and  poetry.  They  made  stanzas  upon  every 


A    MOOR    IN    THE    COURT    OF    LIONS  101 

occasion,  and  set  them  all  to  music.  He  who  could  make  the 
best  verses,  and  she  who  had  the  most  tuneful  voice,  might  be 
sure  of  favor  and  preferment.  In  those  days,  if  any  one  asked 
for  bread,  the  reply  was,  make  me  a  couplet ;  and  the  poorest 
beggar,  if  he  begged  in  rhyme,  would  often  be  rewarded  with 
a  piece  of  gold." 

"  And  is  the  popular  feeling  for  poetry,"  said  I,  "  entirely  lost 
among  you  ? " 

"By  no  means,  senor ;  the  people  of  Barbary,  even  those  of 
the  lower  classes,  still  make  couplets,  and  good  ones  too,  as  in 
old  times ;  but  talent  is  not  rewarded  as  it  was  then ;  the  rich 
prefer  the  jingle  of  their  gold  to  the  sound  of  poetry  or  music." 

As  he  was  talking,  his  eye  caught  one  of  the  inscriptions 
which  foretold  perpetuity  to  the  power  and  glory  of  the  Mos 
lem  monarchs,  the  masters  of  this  pile.  He  shook  his  head, 
and  shrugged  his  shoulders,  as  he  interpreted  it.  "Such  might 
have  been  the  case,"  said  he;  "the  Moslems  might  still  have 
been  reigning  in  the  Alhambra,  had  not  Boabdil  been  a  traitor, 
and  given  up  his  capital  to  the  Christians.  The  Spanish  mon 
archs  would  never  have  been  able  to  conquer  it  by  open  force." 

I  endeavored  to  vindicate  the  memory  of  the  unlucky  Boabdil 
from  this  aspersion,  and  to  show  that  the  dissensions  which  led 
to  the  downfall  of  the  Moorish  throne  originated  in  the  cruelty 
of  his  tiger-hearted  father;  but  the  Moor  would  admit  of  no 
palliation. 

"Muley  Abul  Hassan,"  said  he,  "might  have  been  cruel; 
but  he  was  brave,  vigilant,  and  patriotic.  Had  he  been  properly 
seconded,  Granada  would  still  have  been  ours ;  but  his  son 
Boabdil  thwarted  his  plans,  crippled  his  power,  sowed  treason 
in  his  palace  and  dissension  in  his  camp.  May  the  curse  of 
God  light  upon  him  for  his  treachery ! "  With  these  words  the 
Moor  left  the  Alhambra. 

The  indignation  of  my  turbaned  companion  agrees  with  an 
anecdote  related  by  a  friend,  who,  in  the  course  of  a  tour  in 


102  THE    ALHAMBRA 

Barbary,  had  an  interview  with  the  Pacha  of  Tetuan.  The 
Moorish  governor  was  particular  in  his  inquiries  about  Spain, 
and  especially  concerning  the  favored  region  of  Andalusia,  the 
delights  of  Granada,  and  the  remains  of  its  royal  palace.  The 
replies  awakened  all  those  fond  recollections,  so  deeply  cherished 
by  the  Moors,  of  the  power  and  splendor  of  their  ancient  em 
pire  in  Spain.  Turning  to  his  Moslem  attendants,  the  Pacha 
stroked  his  beard,  and  broke  forth  in  passionate  lamentations, 
that  such  a  sceptre  should  have  fallen  from  the  sway  of  true 
believers.  He  consoled  himself,  however,  with  the  persuasion, 
that  the  power  and  prosperity  of  the  Spanish  nation  were  on 
the  decline ;  that  a  time  would  come  when  the  Moors  would 
conquer  their  rightful  domains ;  and  that  the  day  was  perhaps 
not  far  distant  when  Mohammedan  worship  would  again  be 
offered  up  in  the  mosque  of  Cordova,  and  a  Mohammedan  prince 
sit  on  his  throne  in  the  Alhambra. 

Such  is  the  general  aspiration  and  belief  among  the  Moors 
of  Barbary;  who  consider  Spain,  or  Andaluz,  as  it  was  an 
ciently  called,  their  rightful  heritage,  of  which  they  have  been 
despoiled  by  treachery  and  violence.  These  ideas  are  fostered 
and  perpetuated  by  the  descendants  of  the  exiled  Moors  of 
Granada,  scattered  among  the  cities  of  Barbary.  Several 
of  these  reside  in  Tetuan,  preserving  their  ancient  names,  such 
as  Paez  and  Medina,  and  refraining  from  intermarriage  with 
any  families  who  cannot  claim  the  same  high  origin.  Their 
vaunted  lineage  is  regarded  with  a  degree  of  popular  deference 
rarely  shown  in  Mohammedan  communities  to  any  hereditary 
distinction,  excepting  in  the  royal  line. 

These  families,  it  is  said,  continue  to  sigh  after  the  terrestrial 
paradise  of  their  ancestors,  and  to  put  up  prayers  in  their 
mosques  on  Fridays,  imploring  Allah  to  hasten  the  time  when 
Granada  shall  be  restored  to  the  faithful :  an  event  to  which 
they  look  forward  as  fondly  and  confidently  as  did  the  Christian 
crusaders  to  the  recovery  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  Nay,  it  is 


BOABDIL    SLANDERED  103 

added,  that  some  of  them  retain  the  ancient  maps  and  deeds 
of  the  estates  and  gardens  of  their  ancestors  at  Granada,  and 
even  the  keys  of  the  houses ;  holding  them  as  evidences  of  their 
hereditary  claims,  to  be  produced  at  the  anticipated  day  of 
restoration. 

My  conversation  with  the  Moor  set  me  to  musing  on  the 
fate  of  Boabdil.  Never  was  surname  more  applicable  than  that 
bestowed  upon  him  by  his  subjects  of  El  Zogoybi,  or  the  Un 
lucky.  His  misfortunes  began  almost  in  his  cradle,  and  ceased 
not  even  with  his  death.  If  ever  he  cherished  the  desire 
of  leaving  an  honorable  name  on  the  historic  page,  how  cruelly 
has  he  been  defrauded  of  his  hopes !  Who  is  there  that  has 
turned  the  least  attention  to  the  romantic  history  of  the  Moor 
ish  domination  in  Spain,  without  kindling  with  indignation  at 
the  alleged  atrocities  of  Boabdil  1  Who  has  not  been  touched 
with  the  woes  of  his  lovely  and  gentle  queen,  subjected  by 
him  to  a  trial  of  life  and  death,  on  a  false  charge  of  infidelity  ? 
Who  has  not  been  shocked  by  his  alleged  murder  of  his  sister 
and  her  two  children,  in  a  transport  of  passion?  Who  has  not 
felt  his  blood  boil  at  the  inhuman  massacre  of  the  gallant 
Abencerrages,  thirty-six  of  whom,  it  is  affirmed,  he  ordered 
to  be  beheaded  in  the  Court  of  Lions  1  All  these  charges  have 
been  reiterated  in  various  forms ;  they  have  passed  into  ballads, 
dramas,  and  romances,  until  they  have  taken  too  thorough 
possession  of  the  public  mind  to  be  eradicated.  There  is  not  a 
foreigner  of  education  that  visits  the  Alhambra,  but  asks  for 
the  fountain  where  the  Abencerrages  were  beheaded  ;  and  gazes 
with  horror  at  the  grated  gallery  where  the  queen  is  said  to 
have  been  confined ;  not  a  peasant  of  the  Vega  or  the  Sierra, 
but  sings  the  story  in  rude  couplets,  to  the  accompaniment 
of  his  guitar,  while  his  hearers  learn  to  execrate  the  very 
name  of  Boabdil. 

Never,  however,  was  name  more  foully  and  unjustly  slandered. 
I  have  examined  all  the  authentic  chronicles  and  letters  written 


104  THE    ALHAMBRA 

by  Spanish  authors,  contemporary  with  Boabdil;  some  of  whom 
were  in  the  confidence  of  the  Catholic  sovereigns,  and  actually 
present  in  the  camp  throughout  the  war.  I  have  examined 
all  the  Arabian  authorities  I  could  get  access  to,  through  the 
medium  of  translation,  and  have  found  nothing  to  justify  these 
dark  and  hateful  accusations.  The  most  of  these  tales  may  be 
traced  to  a  work  commonly  called  "  The  Civil  Wars  of  Gra 
nada,"  containing  a  pretended  history  of  the  feuds  of  the 
Zegries  and  Abencerrages,  during  the  last  struggle  of  the  Moor 
ish  empire.  The  work  appeared  originally  in  Spanish,  and 
professed  to  be  translated  from  the  Arabic  by  one  Gines  Perez 
de  Hita,  an  inhabitant  of  Murcia.  It  has  since  passed  into 
various  languages,  and  Florian  has  taken  from  it  much  of  the 
fable  of  his  Gonsalvo  of  Cordova  :  it  has  thus,  in  a  great  meas 
ure,  usurped  the  authority  of  real  history,  and  is  currently 
believed  by  the  people,  and  especially  the  peasantry  of  Granada. 
The  whole  of  it,  however,  is  a  mass  of  fiction,  mingled  with 
a  few  disfigured  truths,  which  give  it  an  air  of  veracity.  It 
bears  internal  evidence  of  its  falsity ;  the  manners  and  customs 
of  the  Moors  being  extravagantly  misrepresented  in  it,  and 
scenes  depicted  totally  incompatible  with  their  habits  and  their 
faith,  and  which  never  could  have  been  recorded  by  a  Moham 
medan  writer. 

I  confess  there  seems  to  me  something  almost  criminal  in  the 
wilful  perversions  of  this  work :  great  latitude  is  undoubtedly 
to  be  allowed  to  romantic  fiction,  but  there  are  limits  which  it 
must  not  pass ;  and  the  names  of  the  distinguished  dead,  which 
belong  to  history,  are  no  more  to  be  calumniated  than  those 
of  the  illustrious  living.  One  would  have  thought,  too,  that 
the  unfortunate  Boabdil  had  suffered  enough  for  his  justifiable 
hostility  to  the  Spaniards,  by  being  stripped  of  his  kingdom, 
without  having  his  name  thus  wantonly  traduced,  and  rendered 
a  by- word  and  a  theme  of  infamy  in  his  native  land,  and  in  the 
very  mansion  of  his  fathers ! 


THE    ABENCERRAGES  105 

If  the  reader  is  sufficiently  interested  in  these  questions  to 
tolerate  a  little  historical  detail,  the  following  facts,  gleaned 
from  what  appear  to  be  authentic  sources,  and  tracing  the  for 
tunes  of  the  Abencerrages,  may  serve  to  exculpate  the  unfortu 
nate  Boabdil  from  the  perfidious  massacre  of  that  illustrious  line 
so  shamelessly  charged  to  him.  It  will  also  serve  to  throw  a 
proper  light  upon  the  alleged  accusation  and  imprisonment  of 
his  queen. 

THE  ABENCERRAGES 

A  GRAND  line  of  distinction  existed  among  the  Moslems  of 
Spain,  between  those  of  Oriental  origin  and  those  from  Western 
Africa.  Among  the  former  the  Arabs  considered  themselves 
the  purest  race,  as  being  descended  from  the  countrymen  of  the 
Prophet,  who  first  raised  the  standard  of  Islam;  among  the 
latter,  the  most  warlike  and  powerful  were  the  Berber  tribes 
from  Mount  Atlas  and  the  deserts  of  Sahara,  commonly  known 
as  Moors,  who  subdued  the  tribes  of  the  sea-coast,  founded  the 
city  of  Morocco,  and  for  a  long  time  disputed  with  the  Oriental 
races  the  control  of  Moslem  Spain. 

Among  the  Oriental  races  the  Abencerrages  held  a  distin 
guished  rank,  priding  themselves  on  a  pure  Arab  descent  from 
the  Beni  Seraj,  one  of  the  tribes  who  were  Ansares  or  Com 
panions  of  the  Prophet.  The  Abencerrages  flourished  for  a  time 
at  Cordova ;  but  probably  repaired  to  Granada  after  the  down 
fall  of  the  Western  Caliphat;  it  was  there  they  attained  their 
historical  and  romantic  celebrity,  being  foremost  among  the 
splendid  chivalry  which  graced  the  court  of  the  Alhambra. 

Their  highest  and  most  dangerous  prosperity  was  during  the 
precarious  reign  of  Muhamed  Nasar,  surnamed  El  Hayzari,  or 
the  Left-handed.  That  ill-starred  monarch,  when  he  ascended 
the  throne  in  1423,  lavished  his  favors  upon  this  gallant  line, 
making  the  head  of  the  tribe,  Jusef  Aben  Zeragh,  his  vizier,  or 


106  THE    ALHAMBRA 

prime  minister,  and  advancing  his  relatives  and  friends  to  the 
most  distinguished  posts  about  the  court.  This  gave  great 
offence  to  other  tribes,  and  caused  intrigues  among  their  chiefs. 
Muhamed  lost  popularity  also  by  his  manners.  He  was  vain, 
inconsiderate,  and  haughty ;  disdained  to  mingle  among  his  sub 
jects  ;  forbade  those  jousts  and  tournaments,  the  delight  of  high 
and  low,  and  passed  his  time  in  the  luxurious  retirement  of  the 
AUiambra.  The  consequence  was  a  popular  insurrection  :  the 
palace  was  stormed ;  the  king  escaped  through  the  gardens,  fled 
to  the  sea-coast,  crossed  in  disguise  to  Africa,  and  took  refuge 
with  his  kinsman,  the  sovereign  of  Tunis. 

Muhamed  el  Zaguer,  cousin  of  the  fugitive  monarch,  took 
possession  of  the  vacant  throne.  He  pursued  a  different  course 
from  his  predecessor.  He  not  only  gave  fetes  and  tourneys,  but 
entered  the  lists  himself,  in  grand  and  sumptuous  array ;  he 
distinguished  himself  in  managing  his  horse,  in  tilting,  riding 
at  the  ring,  and  other  chivalrous  exercises ;  feasted  with  his 
cavaliers,  and  made  them  magnificent  presents. 

Those  who  had  been  in  favor  with  his  predecessor,  now  ex 
perienced  a  reverse ;  he  manifested  such  hostility  to  them  that 
more  than  five  hundred  of  the  principal  cavaliers  left  the  city. 
Jusef  Aben  Zeragh,  with  forty  of  the  Abencerrages,  abandoned 
Granada  in  the  night,  and  sought  the  court  of  Juan  the  king  of 
Castile.  Moved  by  their  representations,  that  young  and  gen 
erous  monarch  wrote  letters  to  the  sovereign  of  Tunis,  inviting 
him  to  assist  in  punishing  the  usurper  and  restoring  the  exiled 
king  to  his  throne.  The  faithful  and  indefatigable  vizier  accom 
panied  the  bearer  of  these  letters  to  Tunis,  where  he  rejoined  his 
exiled  sovereign.  The  letters  were  successful.  Muhamed  el 
Hayzari  landed  in  Andalusia  with  five  hundred  African  horse, 
and  was  joined  by  the  Abencerrages  and  others  of  his  adherents, 
and  by  his  Christian  allies ;  wherever  he  appeared  the  people 
submitted  to  him ;  troops  sent  against  him  deserted  to  his 
standard  ;  Granada  was  recovered  without  a  blow ;  the  usurper 


DON   PEDRO    VENEGAS  107 

retreated  to  the  Alhambra,  but  was  beheaded  by  his  own  soldiers 
(1428),  after  reigning  between  two  and  three  years. 

El  Hayzari,  once  more  on  the  throne,  heaped  honors  on  the 
loyal  vizier,  through  whose  faithful  services  he  had  been  restored, 
and  once  more  the  line  of  the  Abencerrages  basked  in  the  sun 
shine  of  royal  favor.  El  Hayzari  sent  ambassadors  to  King 
Juan,  thanking  him  for  his  aid,  and  proposing  a  perpetual  league 
of  amity.  The  king  of  Castile  required  homage  and  yearly  trib 
ute.  These  the  left-handed  monarch  refused,  supposing  the 
youthful  king  too  much  engaged  in  civil  war  to  enforce  his 
claims.  Again  the  kingdom  of  Granada  was  harassed  by  inva 
sions,  and  its  Vega  laid  waste.  Various  battles  took  place  with 
various  success.  But  El  Hayzari's  greatest  danger  was  near  at 
home.  There  was  at  that  time  in  Granada  a  cavalier,  Don  Pedro 
Venegas  by  name,  a  Moslem  by  faith,  but  Christian  by  descent, 
whose  early  history  borders  on  romance.  He  was  of  the  noble 
house  of  Luque,  but  captured  when  a  child,  eight  years  of  age, 
by  Cid  Yahia  Almayar,  prince  of  Almeria,1  who  adopted  him  as 
his  son,  educated  him  in  the  Moslem  faith,  and  brought  him  up 
among  his  children,  the  Celtimerian  princes,  a  proud  family, 
descended  in  direct  line  from  Aben  Hud,  one -of  the  early  Gra- 
nadian  kings.  A  mutual  attachment  sprang  up  between  Don 
Pedro  and  the  princess  Cetimerien,  a  daughter  of  Cid  Yahia, 
famous  for  her  beauty,  and  whose  name  is  perpetuated  by  the 
ruins  of  her  palace  in  Granada  —  still  bearing  traces  of  Moorish 
elegance  and  luxury.  In  process  of  time  they  were  married  ; 
and  thus  a  scion  of  the  Spanish  house  of  Luque  became  en 
grafted  on  the  royal  stock  of  Aben  Hud. 

Such  is  the  early  story  of  Don  Pedro  Venegas,  who  at  the 
time  of  which  we  treat  was  a  man  mature  in  years,  and  of  an 
active,  ambitious  spirit.  He  appears  to  have  been  the  soul  of  a 
conspiracy  set  on  foot  about  this  time,  to  topple  Muhamed  the 
Left-handed  from  his  unsteady  throne,  and  elevate  in  his  place 
Yusef  Aben  Alhamar,  the  eldest  of  the  Celtimerian  princes. 


108  THE   ALHAMBRA 

The  aid  of  the  king  of  Castile  was  to  be  secured,  and  Don 
Pedro  proceeded  on  a  secret  embassy  to  Cordova  for  the  pur 
pose.  He  informed  King  Juan  of  the  extent  of  the  conspiracy ; 
that  Yusef  Aben  Alhamar  could  bring  a  large  force  to  his 
standard  as  soon  as  he  should  appear  in  the  Vega,  and  would 
acknowledge  himself  his  vassal,  if  with  his  aid  he  should  attain 
the  crown.  The  aid  was  promised,  and  Don  Pedro  hastened 
back  to  Granada  with  the  tidings.  The  conspirators  now  left 
the  city,  a  few  at  a  time,  under  various  pretexts ;  and  when 
King  Juan  passed  the  frontier,  Yusef  Aben  Alhamar  brought 
eight  thousand  men  to  his  standard,  and  kissed  his  hand  in 
token  of  allegiance. 

It  is  needless  to  recount  the  various  battles  by  which  the 
kingdom  was  desolated,  and  the  various  intrigues  by  which 
one  half  of  it  was  roused  to  rebellion.  The  Abencerrages 
stood  by  the  failing  fortunes  of  Muhamed  throughout  the 
struggle ;  their  last  stand  was  at  Loxa,  where  their  chief,  the 
vizier  Yusef  Aben  Zeragh,  fell  bravely  fighting,  and  many  of 
their  noblest  cavaliers  were  slain :  in  fact,  in  that  disastrous 
war  the  fortunes  of  the  family  were  nearly  wrecked. 

Again  the  ill-starred  Muhamed  was  driven  from  his  throne, 
and  took  refuge  in  Malaga,  the  alcayde  of  which  still  remained 
true  to  him. 

Yusef  Aben  Alhamar,  commonly  known  as  Yusef  II.,  en 
tered  Granada  in  triumph  on  the  first  of  January,  1432,  but 
he  found  it  a  melancholy  city,  where  half  of  the  inhabitants 
were  in  mourning.  Not  a  noble  family  but  had  lost  some 
member;  and  in  the  slaughter  of  the  Abencerrages  at  Loxa 
had  fallen  some  of  the  brightest  of  the  chivalry. 

The  royal  pageant  passed  through  silent  streets,  and  the 
barren  homage  of  a  court  in  the  halls  of  the  Alhatnbra  ill 
supplied  the  want  of  sincere  and  popular  devotion.  Yusef 
Aben  Alhamar  felt  the  insecurity  of  his  position.  The  deposed 
monarch  was  at  hand  in  Malaga ;  the  sovereign  of  Tunis  es- 


YUSEF   ABEN  ALHAMAR  109 

poused  his  cause,  and  pleaded  with  the  Christian  monarchs  in 
his  favor ;  above  all,  Yusef  felt  his  own  unpopularity  in  Gra 
nada  ;  previous  fatigues  had  impaired  his  health,  a  profound 
melancholy  settled  upon  him,  and  in  the  course  of  six  months 
he  sank  into  the  grave. 

At  the  news  of  his  death,  Muhamed  the  Left-handed  hast 
ened  from  Malaga,  and  again  was  placed  on  the  throne.  From 
the  wrecks  of  the  Abencerrages  he  chose  as  vizier  Abdelbar, 
one  of  the  worthiest  of  that  magnanimous  line.  Through  his 
advice  he  restrained  his  vindictive  feelings  and  adopted  a 
conciliatory  policy.  He  pardoned  most  of  his  enemies.  Yusef, 
the  defunct  usurper,  had  left  three  children.  His  estates  were 
apportioned  among  them.  Aben  Celim,  the  eldest  son,  was 
confirmed  in  the  title  of  Prince  of  Almeria  and  Lord  of  Mar- 
chena  in  the  Alpuxarras.  Ahmed,  the  youngest,  was  made 
Senor  of  Luchar;  and  Equivila,  the  daughter,  received  rich 
patrimonial  lands  in  the  fertile  Vega,  and  various  houses  and 
shops  in  the  Zacatin  of  Granada.  The  vizier  Abdelbar  coun 
selled  the  king,  moreover,  to  secure  the  adherence  of  the  family 
by  matrimonial  connections.  An  aunt  of  Muhamed  was  ac 
cordingly  given  in  marriage  to  Aben  Celim,  while  the  prince 
Nasar,  younger  brother  of  the  deceased  usurper,  received  the 
hand  of  the  beautiful  Lindaraxa,  daughter  of  Muhamed's  faith 
ful  adherent,  the  alcayde  of  Malaga.  This  was  the  Lindaraxa 
whose  name  still  designates  one  of  the  gardens  of  the  Alhambra. 

Don  Pedro  de  Venegas  alone,  the  husband  of  the  princess 
Cetimerien,  received  no  favor.  He  was  considered  as  having 
produced  the  late  troubles  by  his  intrigues.  The  Abencerrages 
charged  him  with  the  reverses  of  their  family  and  the  deaths 
of  so  many  of  their  bravest  cavaliers.  The  king  never  spoke 
of  him  but  by  the  opprobrious  appellation  of  the  Tornadizo,  or 
Renegade.  Finding  himself  in  danger  of  arrest  and  punish 
ment,  he  took  leave  of  his  wife,  the  princess,  his  two  sons, 
Abul  Cacim  and  Recluan,  and  his  daughter,  Cetimerien,  and 


110  THE    ALHAMBRA 

fled  to  Jaen.  There,  like  his  brother-in-law,  the  usurper,  he 
expiated  his  intrigues  and  irregular  ambition  by  profound 
humiliation  and  melancholy,  and  died  in  1434  a  penitent, 
because  a  disappointed  man.2 

Muhamed  el  Hayzari  was  doomed  to  further  reverses.  He 
had  two  nephews,  Aben  Osmyn,  surnamed  El  Anaf,  or  the 
Lame,  and  Aben  Ismael.  The  former,  who  was  of  an  am 
bitious  spirit,  resided  in  Almeria ;  the  latter  in  Granada,  where 
he  had  many  friends.  He  was  on  the  point  of  espousing  a 
beautiful  girl,  when  his  royal  uncle  interfered  and  gave  her 
to  one  of  his  favorites.  Enraged  at  this  despotic  act,  the 
prince  Aben  Ismael  took  horse  and  weapons  and  sallied  from 
Granada  for  the  frontier,  followed  by  numerous  cavaliers.  The 
affair  gave  general  disgust,  especially  to  the  Abencerrages,  who 
were  attached  to  the  prince.  No  sooner  did  tidings  reach 
Aben  Osmyn  of  the  public  discontent  than  his  ambition,  was 
aroused.  Throwing  himself  suddenly  into  Granada,  he  raised 
a  popular  tumult,  surprised  his  uncle  in  the  Alhambra,  com 
pelled  him  to  abdicate,  and  proclaimed  himself  king.  This 
occurred  in  September,  1445.  The  Abencerrages  now  gave 
up  the  fortunes  of  the  left-handed  king  as  hopeless,  and  him- 
selt  as  incompetent  to  rule.  Led  by  their  kinsman,  the  vizier 
Abdelbar,  and  accompanied  by  many  other  cavaliers,  they 
abandoned  the  court  and  took  post  in  Montefrio.  Thence 
AbJelbar  wrote  to  Prince  Aben  Ismael,  who  had  taken  refuge 
in  Castile,  inviting  him  to  the  camp,  offering  to  support  his 
pretensions  to  the  throne,  and  advising  him  to  leave  Castile 
secretly,  lest  his  departure  should  be  opposed  by  King  Juan  II. 
The  prince,  however,  confiding  in  the  generosity  of  the  Castilian 
monarch,  told  frankly  the  whole  matter.  He  was  not  mistaken. 
King  Juan  not  merely  gave  him  permission  to  depart,  but 
promised  him  aid,  and  gave  him  letters  to  that  effect  to  his 
commanders  on  the  frontiers.  Aben  Ismael  departed  with  a 
brilliant  escort,  arrived  in  safety  at  Montefrio,  and  was  pro- 


THE    ABENCEftRAGES  111 

claimed  king  of  Granada  by  Abdelbar  and  his  partisans,  the 
most  important  of  whom  were  the  Abencerrages.  A  long 
course  of  civil  wars  ensued  between  the  two  cousins,  rivals  for 
the  throne.  Aben  Osmyn  was  aided  by  the  kings  of  Navarre 
and  Aragon,  while  Juan  II.,  at  war  with  his  rebellious  sub 
jects,  could  give  little  assistance  to  Aben  Ismael. 

Thus  for  several  years  the  country  was  torn  by  internal  strife 
and  desolated  by  foreign  inroads,  so  that  scarce  a  field  but  was 
stained  with  blood.  Aben  Osmyn  was  brave,  and  often  signal 
ized  himself  in  arms ;  but  he  was  cruel  and  despotic,  and  ruled 
with  an  iron  hand.  He  offended  the  nobles  by  his  caprices,  and 
the  populace  by  his  tyranny,  while  his  rival  cousin  conciliated 
all  hearts  by  his  benignity.  Hence  there  were  continual  deser 
tions  from  Granada  to  the  fortified  camp  at  Montefrio,  and  the 
party  of  Aben  Ismael  was  constantly  gaining  strength.  At 
length  the  king  of  Castile,  having  made  peace  with  the  kings 
of  Aragon  and  Navarre,  was  enabled  to  send  a  choice  body  of 
troops  to  the  assistance  of  Aben  Ismael.  The  latter  now  left 
his  trenches  in  Montefrio,  and  took  the  field.  The  combined 
forces  marched  upon  Granada.  Aben  Osmyn  sallied  forth  to 
the  encounter.  A  bloody  battle  ensued,  in  which  both  of  the 
rival  cousins  fought  with  heroic  valor.  Aben  Osmyn  was  de 
feated  and  driven  back  to  his  gates.  He  summoned  the  inhab 
itants  to  arms,  but  few  answered  to  his  call ;  his  cruelty  had 
alienated  all  hearts.  Seeing  his  fortunes  at  an  end,  he  deter 
mined  to  close  his  career  by  a  signal  act  of  vengeance.  Shut 
ting  himself  up  in  the  Alhambra,  he  summoned  thither  a 
number  of  the  principal  cavaliers  whom  he  suspected  of  disloy 
alty.  As  they  entered,  they  were  one  by  one  put  to  death. 
This  is  supposed  by  some  to  be  the  massacre  which  gave  its 
fatal  name  to  the  hall  of  the  Abencerrages.  Having  perpetrated 
this  atrocious  act  of  vengeance,  and  hearing  by  the  shouts  of 
the  populace  that  Aben  Ismael  was  already  proclaimed  king 
in  the  city,  he  escaped  with  his  satellites  by  the  Cerro  del  Sol 


112  THE    ALHAMBRA 

and  the  valley  of  the  Darro  to  the  Alpuxarra  Mountains ;  where 
he  and  his  followers  led  a  kind  of  robber  life,  laying  villages 
and  roads  under  contribution. 

Aben  Ismael  II.,  who  thus  attained  the  throne  in  1454, 
secured  the  friendship  of  King  Juan  II.  by  acts  of  homage  and 
magnificent  presents.  He  gave  liberal  rewards  to  those  who 
had  been  faithful  to  him,  and  consoled  the  families  of  those 
who  had  fallen  in  his  cause.  During  his  reign,  the  Abencer- 
rages  were  again  among  the  most  favored  of  the  brilliant 
chivalry  that  graced  his  court.  Aben  Ismael,  however,  was 
not  of  a  warlike  spirit ;  his  reign  was  distinguished  rather  by 
works  of  public  utility,  the  ruins  of  some  of  which  are  still  to 
be  seen  on  the  Cerro  del  Sol. 

In  the  same  year  of  1454  Juan  II.  died,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Henry  IV.  of  Castile,  surnamed  the  Impotent.  Aben  Ismael 
neglected  to  renew  the  league  of  amity  with  him  which  had 
existed  with  his  predecessor,  as  he  found  it  to  be  unpopular 
with  the  people  of  Granada.  King  Henry  resented  the  omis 
sions,  and,  under  pretext  of  arrears  of  tribute,  made  repeated 
forays  into  the  kingdom  of  Granada.  He  gave  countenance 
also  to  Aben  Osmyn  and  his  robber  hordes,  and  took  some  of 
them  into  pay;  but  his  proud  cavaliers  refused  to  associate 
with  infidel  outlaws,  and  determined  to  seize  Aben  Osmyn ; 
who,  however,  made  his  escape,  first  to  Seville,  and  thence  to 
Castile. 

In  the  year  1456,  on  the  occasion  of  a  great  foray  into  the 
Vega  by  the  Christians,  Aben  Ismael,  to  secure  a  peace,  agreed 
to  pay  the  king  of  Castile  a  certain  tribute  annually,  and  at  the 
same  time  to  liberate  six  hundred  Christian  captives  ;  or,  should 
the  number  of  captives  fall  short,  to  make  it  up  in  Moorish 
hostages.  Aben  Ismael  fulfilled  the  rigorous  terms  of  the 
treaty,  and  reigned  for  a  number  of  years  with  more  tran 
quillity  than  usually  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  monarchs  of  that 
belligerent  kingdom.  Granada  enjoyed  a  great  state  of  pros- 


DESCENDANTS    OF   DON   PEDRO    VENEGAS       113 

perity  during  his  reign,  and  was  the  seat  of  festivity  and 
splendor.  His  sultana  was  a  daughter  of  Cid  Hiaya  Abraham 
Alnayar,  prince  of  Almeria ;  and  he  had  by  her  two  sons,  Abul 
Hassan,  and  Abi  Abdallah,  surnamed  El  Zagal,  the  father  and 
uncle  of  Boabdil  We  approach  now  the  eventful  period  signal 
ized  by  the  conquest  of  Granada. 

Muley  Abul  Hassan  succeeded  to  the  throne  on  the  death  of 
his  father  in  1465.  One  of  his  first  acts  was  to  refuse  payment 
of  the  degrading  tribute  exacted  by  the  Castilian  monarch.  His 
refusal  was  one  of  the  causes  of  the  subsequent  disastrous  war. 
I  confine  myself,  however,  to  facts  connected  with  the  fortunes 
of  the  Abencerrages  and  the  charges  advanced  against  Boabdil. 

The  reader  will  recollect  that  Don  Pedro  Venegas,  surnamed 
El  Tornadizo,  when  he  fled  from  Granada  in  1433,  left  behind 
him  two  sons,  Abul  Cacim  and  Reduan,  and  a  daughter,  Ceti- 
merien.  They  always  enjoyed  a  distinguished  rank  in  Granada, 
from  their  royal  descent  by  the  mother's  side,  and  from  being 
connected,  through  the  princes  of  Almeria,  with  the  last  and 
the  present  king.  The  sons  had  distinguished  themselves  by 
their  talents  and  bravery,  and  the  daughter  Cetimerien  was 
married  to  Cid  Hiaya,  grandson  of  King  Yusef  and  brother-in- 
law  of  El  Zagal.  Thus  powerfully  connected,  it  is  not  surpris 
ing  to  find  Abul  Cacim  Venegas  advanced  to  the  post  of  vizier 
of  Muley  Abul  Hassan,  and  Reduan  Venegas  one  of  his  most 
favored  generals.  Their  rise  was  regarded  with  an  evil  eye  by 
the  Abencerrages,  who  remembered  the  disasters  brought  upon 
their  family,  and  the  deaths  of  so  many  of  their  line,  in  the  war 
fomented  by  the  intrigues  of  Don  Pedro,  in  the  days  of  Yusef 
Aben  Alhamar.  A  feud  had  existed  ever  since  between  the 
Abencerrages  and  the  house  of  Venegas.  It  was  soon  to  be 
aggravated  by  a  formidable  schism  which  took  place  in  the 
royal  harem. 

Muley  Abul  Hassan,  in  his  youthful  days,  had  married  his 
cousin,  the  Princess  Ayxa  la  Horra,  daughter  of  his  uncle,  the 


114  THE    ALHAMBRA 

ill-starred  sultan,  Muhamed  the  Left-handed ; 3  by  her  he  had 
two  sons,  the  eldest  of  whom  was  Boabdil,  heir  presumptive  to 
the  throne.  Unfortunately  at  an  advanced  age  he  took  another 
wife,  Isabella  de  Solis,  a  young  and  beautiful  Christian  captive, 
better  known  by  her  Moorish  appellation  of  Zoraya ;  by  her  he 
had  also  two  sons.  Two  factions  were  produced  in  the  palace 
by  the  rivalry  of  the  sultanas,  who  were  each  anxious  to  secure 
for  their  children  the  succession  to  the  throne.  Zoraya  was 
supported  by  the  vizier  Abul  Cacim  Venegas,  his  brother 
Keduan  Venegas,  and  their  numerous  connections,  partly 
through  sympathy  with  her  as  being,  like  themselves,  of 
Christian  lineage,  and  partly  because  they  saw  she  was  the 
favorite  of  the  doting  monarch. 

The  Abencerrages,  on  the  contrary,  rallied  round  the  sultana 
Ayxa;  partly  through  hereditary  opposition  to  the  family  of 
Venegas,  but  chiefly,  no  doubt,  through  a  strong  feeling  of 
loyalty  to  her  as  daughter  of  Muhamed  Alhayzari,  the  ancient 
benefactor  of  their  line. 

The  dissensions  of  the  palace  went  on  increasing.  Intrigues 
of  all  kinds  took  place,  as  is  usual  in  royal  palaces.  Suspicions 
were  artfully  instilled  in  the  mind  of  Muley  Abul  Hassan  that 
Ayxa  was  engaged  in  a  plot  to  depose  him  and  put  her  son 
Boabdil  on  the  throne.  In  his  first  transports  of  rage  he  con 
fined  them  both  in  the  tower  of  Comares,  threatening  the  life 
of  Boabdil.  At  dead  of  night  the  anxious  mother  lowered  her 
son  from  a  window  of  the  tower  by  the  scarfs  of  herself  and 
her  female  attendants ;  and  some  of  her  adherents,  who  were 
in  waiting  with  swift  horses,  bore  him  away  to  the  Alpuxarras. 
It  is  this  imprisonment  of  the  sultana  Ayxa  which  possibly  gave 
rise  to  the  fable  of  the  queen  of  Boabdil  being  confined  by  him 
in  a  tower  to  be  tried  for  her  life.  No  other  shadow  of  a  ground 
exists  for  it,  and  here  we  find  the  tyrant  jailer  was  his  father, 
and  the  captive  sultana  his  mother. 

The  massacre  of  the  Abencerrages  in  the  halls  of  the  Alham- 


FATE    OF    THE    ABENCERRAGES  115 

bra  is  placed  by  some  about  this  time,  and  attributed  also  to 
Muley  Abul  Hassan,  on  suspicion  of  their  being  concerned  in 
the  conspiracy.  The  sacrifice  of  a  number  of  the  cavaliers  of 
that  line  is  said  to  have  been  suggested  by  the  vizier  Abul 
Cacim  Venegas,  as  a  means  of  striking  terror  into  the  rest.4 
If  such  were  really  the  case,  the  barbarous  measure  proved 
abortive.  The  Abencerrages  continued  intrepid,  as  they  were 
loyal,  in  their  adherence  to  the  cause  of  Ayxa  and  her  son 
Boabdil,  throughout  the  war  which  ensued,  while  the  Venegas 
were  ever  foremost  in  the  ranks  of  Muley  Abul  Hassan  and 
El  Zagal.  The  ultimate  fortunes  of  these  rival  families  is 
worthy  of  note.  The  Venegas,  in  the  last  struggle  of  Granada, 
were  among  those  who  submitted  to  the  conquerors,  renounced 
the  Moslem  creed,  returned  to  the  faith  from  which  their  an 
cestor  had  apostatized,  were  rewarded  with  offices  and  estates, 
intermarried  with  Spanish  families,  and  have  left  posterity 
among  the  nobles  of  the  land.  The  Abencerrages  remained 
true  to  their  faith,  true  to  their  king,  true  to  their  desperate 
cause,  and  went  down  with  the  foundering  wreck  of  Moslem 
domination,  leaving  nothing  behind  them  but  a  gallant  and 
romantic  name  in  history. 

In  this  historical  outline,  I  trust  I  have  shown  enough  to  put 
the  fable  concerning  Boabdil  and  the  Abencerrages  in  a  true 
light.  The  story  of  the  accusation  of  his  queen,  and  his  cruelty 
to  his  sister,  are  equally  void  of  foundation.  In  his  domestic 
relations  he  appears  to  have  been  kind  and  affectionate.  His 
tory  gives  him  but  one  wife,  Morayma,  the  daughter  of  the 
veteran  alcayde  of  Loxa,  old  Aliatar,  famous  in  song  and  story 
for  his  exploits  in  border  warfare ;  and  who  fell  in  that  disas 
trous  foray  into  the  Christian  lands  in  which  Boabdil  was  taken 
prisoner.  Morayma  was  true  to  Boabdil  throughout  all  his 
vicissitudes.  When  he  was  dethroned  by  the  Castilian  mon- 
archs,  she  retired  with  him  to  the  petty  domain  allotted  him  in 
the  valleys  of  the  Alpuxarras,  It  was  only  when  (dispossessed 


116  THE    ALHAMBRA 

of  this  by  the  jealous  precautions  and  subtle  chicanery  of  Ferdi 
nand,  and  elbowed,  as  it  were,  out  of  his  native  land)  he  was 
preparing  to  embark  for  Africa,  that  her  health  and  spirits, 
exhausted  by  anxiety  and  long  suffering,  gave  way,  and  she  fell 
into  a  lingering  illness  aggravated  by  corroding  melancholy. 
Boabdil  was  constant  and  affectionate  to  her  to  the  last ;  the 
sailing  of  the  ships  was  delayed  for  several  weeks,  to  the  great 
annoyance  of  the  suspicious  Ferdinand.  At  length  Moray  ma 
sank  into  the  grave,  evidently  the  victim  of  a  broken  heart,  and 
the  event  was  reported  to  Ferdinand  by  his  agent  as  one  pro 
pitious  to  his  purposes,  removing  the  only  obstacle  to  the 
embarkation  of  Boabdil.5 

1  Alcantara,  Hist.  Granad. ,  O.  3,  p.  226,  note. 

2  Salazar  y  Castro,  Hist.  Genealog.  de  la  Casa  de  Lara,  lib.  v. 
c.  12,  cited  by  Alcantara  in  his  Hist.  Granad. 

3  Al  Makkari,  B.  VIII.  c.  7. 

4  Alcantara,  Hist,  Granad.,  c.  17.     See  also  Al  Makkari,  Hist. 
Mohama.  Dynasties,  B.  VIII.  c.  7,  with  the  Commentaries  of  Don 
Pascual  de  Guyangos. 

5  For  authorities  for  these  latter  facts,  see  the  Appendix  to  the 
author's  revised  edition  of  the  Conquest  of  Granada. 


MEMENTOS   OF   BOABDIL 

WHILE  my  mind  was  still  warm  with  the  subject  of  the  un 
fortunate  Boabdil,  I  set  forth  to  trace  the  mementos  of  him 
still  existing  in  this  scene  of  his  sovereignty  and  misfortunes. 
In  the  tower  of  Comares,  immediately  under  the  Hall  of  Am 
bassadors,  are  two  vaulted  rooms,  separated  by  a  narrow  pas 
sage  ;  these  are  said  to  have  been  the  prisons  of  himself  and  his 
mother,  the  virtuous  Ayxa  la  Horra ;  indeed,  no  other  part  of 
the  tower  would  have  served  for  the  purpose.  The  external 
walls  of  these  chambers  are  of  prodigious  thickness,  pierced  with 
small  windows  secured  by  iron  bars,  A  narrow  stone  gallery, 


MEMENTOS    OF    BOABDIL  117 

with  a  low  parapet,  extends  along  three  sides  of  the  tower  just 
below  the  windows,  but  at  a  considerable  height  from  the 
ground.  From  this  gallery,  it  is  presumed,  the  queen  lowered 
her  son  with  the  scarfs  of  herself  and  her  female  attendants 
during  the  darkness  of  the  night  to  the  hill-side,  where  some 
of  his  faithful  adherents  waited  with  fleet  steeds  to  bear  him 
to  the  mountains. 

Between  three  and  four  hundred  years  have  elapsed,  yet  this 
scene  of  the  drama  remains  almost  unchanged.  As  I  paced  the 
gallery,  my  imagination  pictured  the  anxious  queen  leaning  over 
the  parapet,  listening,  with  the  throbbings  of  a  mother's  heart, 
to  the  last  echoes  of  the  horses'  hoofs  as  her  son  scoured  along 
the  narrow  valley  of  the  Darro. 

I  next  sought  the  gate  by  which  Boabdil  made  his  last  exit 
from  the  Alhambra,  when  about  to  surrender  his  capital  and 
kingdom.  With  the  melancholy  caprice  of  a  broken  spirit,  or 
perhaps  with  some  superstitious  feeling,  he  requested  of  the 
Catholic  monarchs  that  no  one  afterwards  might  be  permitted 
to  pass  through  it.  His  prayer,  according  to  ancient  chronicles, 
was  complied  with,  through  the  sympathy  of  Isabella,  and  the 
gate  was  walled  up.1 

I  inquired  for  some  time  in  vain  for  such  a  portal ;  at  length 
my  humble  attendant,  Mateo  Ximenes,  said  it  must  be  one  closed 
up  with  stones,  which,  according  to  what  he  had  heard  from  Mis 
father  and  grandfather,  was  the  gateway  by  which  King  Chico 
had  left  the  fortress.  There  was  a  mystery  about  it,  and  it  had 
never  been  opened  within  the  memory  of  the  oldest  inhabitant. 

He  conducted  me  to  the  spot.  The  gateway  is  in  the  centre 
of  what  was  once  an  immense  pile,  called  the  Tower  of  the 
Seven  Floors  (la  Torre  de  los  siete  suelos).  It  is  famous  in  the 
neighborhood  as  the  scene  of  strange  apparitions  and  Moorish 
enchantments.  According  to  Swinburne  the  traveller,  it  was 
originally  the  great  gate  of  entrance.  The  antiquaries  of  Gran 
ada  pronounce  it  the  entrance  to  that  quarter  of  the  royal 


118  THE    ALHAMBRA 

residence  where  the  king's  body-guards  were  stationed.  It  there 
fore  might  well  form  an  immediate  entrance  and  exit  to  the 
palace ;  while  the  grand  Gate  of  Justice  served  as  the  entrance 
of  state  to  the  fortress.  When  Boabdil  sallied  by  this  gate  to 
descend  to  the  Vega,  where  he  was  to  surrender  the  keys  of  the 
city  to  the  Spanish  sovereigns,  he  left  his  vizier  Aben  Comixa 
to  receive,  at  the  Gate  of  Justice,  the  detachment  from  the 
Christian  army  and  the  officers  to  whom  the  fortress  was  to  be 
given  up.2 

The  once  redoubtable  Tower  of  the  Seven  Floors  is  now  a 
mere  wreck,  having  been  blown  up  with  gunpowder  by  the 
French,  when  they  abandoned  the  fortress.  Great  masses  of 
the  wall  lie  scattered  about,  buried  in  luxuriant  herbage,  or 
overshadowed  by  vines  and  fig-trees.  The  arch  of  the  gateway, 
though  rent  by  the  shock,  still  remains ;  but  the  last  wish  of 
poor  Boabdil  has  again,  though  unintentionally,  been  fulfilled, 
for  the  portal  has  been  closed  up  by  loose  stones  gathered  from 
the  ruins,  and  remains  impassable. 

Mounting  my  horse,  I  followed  up  the  route  of  the  Moslem 
monarch  from  this  place  of  his  exit.  Crossing  the  hill  of  Los 
Martyros,  and  keeping  along  the  garden-wall  of  a  convent  bear 
ing  the  same  name,  I  descended  a  rugged  ravine  beset  by 
thickets  of  aloes  and  Indian  figs,  and  lined  with  caves  and 
hovels  swarming  with  gipsies.  The  descent  was  so  steep  and 
broken  that  I  was  fain  to  alight  and  lead  my  horse.  By  this 
via  dolorosa  poor  Boabdil  took  his  sad  departure  to  avoid  pass 
ing  through  the  city ;  partly,  perhaps,  through  unwillingness 
that  its  inhabitants  should  behold  his  humiliation  ;  but  chiefly, 
in  all  probability,  lest  it  might  cause  some  popular  agitation. 
For  the  last  reason,  undoubtedly,  the  detachment  sent  to  take 
possession  of  the  fortress  ascended  by  the  same  route. 

Emerging  from  this  rough  ravine,  so  full  of  melancholy 
associations,  and  passing  by  the  puerta  de  los  molinos  (the 
gate  of  the  mills),  I  issued  forth  upon  the  public  promenade 


MEMENTOS    OF    BOABDIL  119 

called  the  Prado ;  and  pursuing  the  course  of  the  Xenil,  arrived 
at  a  small  chapel,  once  a  mosque,  now  the  Hermitage  of  San 
Sebastian.  Here,  according  to  tradition,  Boabdil  surrendered  the 
keys  of  Granada  to  King  Ferdinand.  I  rode  slowly  thence 
across  the  Vega  to  a  village  where  the  family  and  household 
of  the  unhappy  king  awaited  him,  for  he  had  sent  them  forward 
on  the  preceding  night  from  the  Alhambra,  that  his  mother  and 
wife  might  not  participate  in  his  personal  humiliation,  or  be 
exposed  to  the  gaze  of  the  conquerors.  Following  on  in  the 
route  of  the  melancholy  band  of  royal  exiles,  I  arrived  at  the 
foot  of  a  chain  of  barren  and  dreary  heights,  forming  the  skirt 
of  the  Alpuxarra  Mountains.  From  the  summit  of  one  of 
these  the  unfortunate  Boabdil  took  his  last  look  at  Granada ; 
it  bears  a  name  expressive  of  his  sorrows,  La  Cuesta  de  las 
Lagrimas  (the  hill  of  tears).  Beyond  it,  a  sandy  road  winds 
across  a  rugged  cheerless  waste,  doubly  dismal  to  the  unhappy 
monarch,  as  it  led  to  exile. 

I  spurred  my  horse  to  the  summit  of  a  rock,  where  Boabdil 
uttered  his  last  sorrowful  exclamation,  as  he  turned  his  eyes 
from  taking  their  farewell  gaze  :  it  is  still  denominated  el  ultimo 
swpiro  del  Moro  (the  last  sigh  of  the  Moor).  Who  can  wonder 
at  his  anguish  at  being  expelled  from  such  a  kingdom  and  such 
an  abode  ?  With  the  Alhambra  he  seemed  to  be  yielding  up 
all  the  honors  of  his  line,  and  all  the  glories  and  delights  of 
life. 

It  was  here,  too,  that  his  affliction  was  embittered  by  the 
reproach  of  his  mother,  Ayxa,  who  had  so  often  assisted  him  in 
times  of  peril,  and  had  vainly  sought  to  instil  into  him  her  own 
resolute  spirit.  "You  do  well,"  said  she,  "  to  weep  as  a  woman 
over  what  you  could  not  defend  as  a  man  ;  "  a  speech  savoring 
more  of  the  pride  of  the  princess  than  the  tenderness  of  the 
mother. 

When  this  anecdote  was  related  to  Charles  V.  by  Bishop 
Guevara,  the  emperor  joined  in  the  expression  of  scorn  at  the 


120  THE    ALHAMBRA 

weakness  of  the  wavering  Boabdil.  "  Had  I  been  he,  or  had 
he  been  I,"  said  the  haughty  potentate,  "  I  would  rather  have 
made  this  Alhambra  my  sepulchre  than  have  lived  without  a 
kingdom  in  the  Alpuxarra."  How  easy  it  is  for  those  in  power 
and  prosperity  to  preach  heroism  to  the  vanquished  !  how  little 
can  they  understand  that  life  itself  may  rise  in  value  with  the 
unfortunate,  when  naught  but  life  remains  ! 

Slowly  descending  the  "  Hill  of  Tears,"  I  let  my  horse  take 
his  own  loitering  gait  back  to  Granada,  while  I  turned  the 
story  of  the  unfortunate  Boabdil  over  in  my  mind.  In  summon 
ing  up  the  particulars,  I  found  the  balance  inclining  in  his  favor. 
Throughout  the  whole  of  his  brief,  turbulent,  and  disastrous 
reign,  he  gives  evidence  of  a  mild  and  amiable  character.  He, 
in  the  first  instance,  won  the  hearts  of  his  people  by  his  affable 
and  gracious  manners ;  he  was  always  placable,  and  never  inflicted 
any  severity  of  punishment  upon  those  who  occasionally  rebelled 
against  him.  He  was  personally  brave ;  but  wanted  moral 
courage ;  and  in  times  of  difficulty  and  perplexity,  was  wavering 
and  irresolute.  This  feebleness  of  spirit  hastened  his  downfall, 
while  it  deprived  him  of  that  heroic  grace  which  would  have 
given  grandeur  and  dignity  to  his  fate,,  and  rendered  him  worthy 
of  closing  the  splendid  drama  of  the  Moslem  domination  in 
Spain. 

1  Ay  una  puerta  en  la  Alhambra  por  la  qual  salio  Chico  "Rey  de 
los  Moros,  quando  si  rindio  prisionero  al  Rey  de  Espaila  D.  Fer 
nando,  y  le  entrego"  la  ciudad  con  el  castillo.     Pidio  esta  principe 
como  por  merced,  y  en  memoria  de  tan  importante  conquista,  al 
que  quedasse  siempre  cerrada  esta  puerta.      Consintio  en  allo  el 
Rey  Fernando,  y  des  de  aquel  tiempo  no  solamente  no  se  abrio  la 
puerta  sino  tambien  se  construyo  junto  &  ella  fuerte   bastion.  — 
Moreri's  Historical  Dictionary.  Spanish  Edition,  Vol.  I.  p.  372. 

2  The  minor  details  of  the  surrender  of  Granada  have  been  stated 
in  different  ways  even  by  eye-witnesses.    The  author,  in  his  revised 
edition  of  the  Conquest,  has  endeavored  to  adjust  them  according 
to  the  latest  and  apparently  best  authorities, 


THE   FETES    OF    GRANADA  121 


PUBLIC   FETES   OF  GRANADA 

MY  devoted  squire  and  whilom  ragged  cicerone  Mateo  Ximenes 
had  a  poor-devil  passion  for  fetes  and  holidays,  and  was  never  so 
eloquent  as  when  detailing  the  civil  and  religious  festivals  at 
Granada.  During  the  preparations  for  the  annual  Catholic  fete 
of  Corpus  Chris ti,  he  was  in  a  state  of  incessant  transition 
between  the  Alhambra  and  the  subjacent  city,  bringing  me 
daily  accounts  of  the  magnificent  arrangements  that  were  in 
progress,  and  endeavoring,  but  in  vain,  to  lure  me  down  from 
my  cool  and  airy  retreat  to  witness  them.  At  length,  on  the 
eve  of  the  eventful  day,  I  yielded  to  his  solicitations  and 
descended  from  the  regal  halls  of  the  Alhambra  under  his  escort, 
as  did  of  yore  the  adventure-seeking  Haroun  Alraschid  under 
that  of  his  Grand  Vizier  GiafFar.  Though  it  was  yet  scarce 
sunset,  the  city'gates  were  already  thronged  with  the  picturesque 
villagers  of  the  mountains,  and  the  brown  peasantry  of  the  Vega. 
Granada  has  ever  been  the  rallying-place  of  a  great  mountainous 
region,  studded  with  towns  and  villages.  Hither,  during  the 
Moorish  domination,  the  chivalry  of  this  region  repaired,  to 
join  in  the  splendid  and  semi- warlike  fetes  of  the  Vivarrambla ; 
and  hither  the  elite  of  its  population  still  resort  to  join  in  the 
pompous  ceremonials  of  the  Church.  Indeed,  many  of  the 
mountaineers  from  the  Alpuxarras  and  the  Sierra  de  Ronda, 
who  now  bow  to  the  cross  as  zealous  Catholics,  bear  the  stamp 
of  their  Moorish  origin,  and  are  indubitable  descendants  of  the 
fickle  subjects  of  Boabdil. 

Under  the  guidance  of  Mateo,  I  made  my  way  through  streets 
already  teeming  with  a  holiday  population,  to  the  square  of 
the  Vivarrambla,  that  great  place  for  tilts  and  tourneys  so 
often  sung  in  the  Moorish  ballads  of  love  and  chivalry.  A 
gallery  or  arcade  of  wood  had  been  erected  along  the  sides  of 
the  square,  for  the  grand  religious  procession  of  the  following 


122  THE    ALHAMBRA 

day.  This  was  brilliantly  illuminated  for  the  evening  as  a 
promenade  ;  and  bands  of  music  were  stationed  on  balconies  on 
each  of  the  four  facades  of  the  square.  All  the  fashion  and 
beauty  of  Granada,  all  of  its  population  of  either  sex  that 
had  good  looks  or  fine  clothes  to  display,  thronged  this  arcade, 
promenading  round  and  round  the  Vivarrambla.  Here,  too, 
were  the  Majos  and  Majas,  the  rural  beaux  and  belles,  with 
fine  forms,  flashing  eyes,  and  gay  Andalusian  costumes;  some 
of  them  from  Eonda  itself,  that  strong-hold  of  the  mountains, 
famous  for  contrabandistas,  bull-fighters  and  beautiful  women. 

While  this  gay  but  motley  throng  kept  up  a  constant  circula 
tion  in  the  gallery,  the  centre  of  the  square  was  occupied  by 
the  peasantry  from  the  surrounding  country;  who  made  no 
pretensions  to  display,  but  came  for  simple,  hearty  enjoyment. 
The  whole  square  was  covered  with  them  ;  forming  separate 
groups  of  families  and  neighborhoods,  like  gipsy  encamp 
ments,  some  were  listening  to  the  traditional  ballad  drawled 
out  to  the  tinkling  of  the  guitar ;  some  were  engaged  in  gay 
conversation ;  some  were  dancing  to  the  click  of  the  Castanet. 
As  I  threaded  my  way  through  this  teeming  region  with  Mateo 
at  my  heels,  I  passed  occasionally  some  rustic  party,  seated  on 
the  ground,  making  a  merry  though  frugal  repast.  If  they 
caught  my  eye  as  I  loitered  by,  they  almost  invariably  invited 
me  to  partake  of  their  simple  fare.  This  hospitable  usage, 
inherited  from  their  Moslem  invaders,  and  originating  in  the 
tent  of  the  Arab,  is  universal  throughout  the  land,  and  observed 
by  the  poorest  Spaniard. 

As  the  night  advanced,  the  gayety  gradually  died  away  in 
the  arcades ;  the  bands  of  music  ceased  to  play,  and  the  brill 
iant  crowd  dispersed  to  their  homes.  The  centre  of  the  square 
still  remained  well  peopled,  and  Mateo  assured  me  that  the 
greater  part  of  the  peasantry,  men,  women,  and  children,  would 
pass  the  night  there,  sleeping  on  the  bare  earth  beneath  the 
open  canopy  of  heaven.  Indeed,  a  summer  night  requires 


THE    PROCESSION  123 

no  shelter  in  this  favored  climate;  and  a  bed  is  a  superfluity 
which  many  of  the  hardy  peasantry  of  Spain  never  enjoy,  and 
which  some  of  them  affect  to  despise.  The  common  Spaniard 
wraps  himself  in  his  brown  cloak,  stretches  himself  on  his 
manta  or  mule-cloth,  and  sleeps  soundly,  luxuriously  accommo 
dated  if  he  can  have  a  saddle  for  a  pillow.  .  In  a  little  while  the 
words  of  Mateo  were  made  good ;  the  peasant  multitude  nestled 
down  on  the  ground  to  their  night's  repose,  and  by  midnight 
the  scene  on  the  Vivarrambla  resembled  the  bivouac  of  an 
army. 

The  next  morning,  accompanied  by  Mateo,  I  revisited  the 
square  at  sunrise.  It  was  still  strewed  with  groups  of  sleepers  : 
some  were  reposing  from  the  dance  and  revel  of  the  evening; 
others,  who  had  left  their  villages  after  work  on  the  preceding 
day,  having  trudged  on  foot  the  greater  part  of  the  night,  were 
taking  a  sound  sleep  to  freshen  themselves  for  the  festivities  of 
the  day.  Numbers  from  the  mountains,  and  the  remote  villages 
of  the  plain,  who  had  set  out  in  the  night,  continued  to  arrive 
with  their  wives  and  children.  All  were  in  high  spirits ; 
greeting  each  other  and  exchanging  jokes  and  pleasantries. 
The  gay  tumult  thickened  as  the  day  advanced.  Now  came 
pouring  in  at  the  city  gates,  and  parading  through  the  streets, 
the  deputations  from  the  various  villages,  destined  to  swell  the 
grand  procession.  These  village  deputations  were  headed  by 
their  priests,  bearing  their  respective  crosses  and  banners,  and 
images  of  the  blessed  Virgin  and  of  patron  saints  ;  all  of  which 
were  matters  of  great  rivalship  and  jealousy  among  the  peas 
antry.  It  was  like  the  chivalrous  gatherings  of  ancient  days, 
when  each  town  and  village  sent  its  chiefs,  and  warriors,  and 
standards,  to  defend  the  capital,  or  grace  its  festivities. 

At  length  all  these  various  detachments  congregated  into  one 
grand  pageant,  which  slowly  paraded  round  the  Vivarrambla, 
and  through  the  principal  streets,  where  every  window  and 
balcony  was  hung  with  tapestry.  In  this  procession  were  all 


124  THE   ALHAMBRA 

the  religious  orders,  the  civil  and  military  authorities,  and  the 
chief  people  of  the  parishes  and  villages :  every  church  and 
convent  had  contributed  its  banners,  its  images,  its  relics,  and 
poured  forth  its  wealth  for  the  occasion.  In  the  centre  of  the 
procession  walked  the  archbishop,  under  a  damask  canopy,  and 
surrounded  by  inferior  dignitaries  and  their  dependants.  The 
whole  moved  to  the  swell  and  cadence  of  numerous  bands  of 
music,  and,  passing  through  the  midst  of  a  countless  yet  silent 
multitude,  proceeded  onward  to  the  cathedral. 

I  could  not  but  be  struck  with  the  changes  of  times  and 
customs,  as  I  saw  this  monkish  pageant  passing  through  the 
Vivarrambla,  the  ancient  seat  of  Moslem  pomp  and  chivalry. 
The  contrast  was  indeed  forced  upon  the  mind  by  the  decora 
tions  of  the  square.  The  whole  front  of  the  wooden  gallery 
erected  for  the  procession,  extending  several  hundred  feet,  was 
faced  with  canvas,  on  which  some  humble  though  patriotic 
artist  had  painted,  by  contract,  a  series  of  the  principal  scenes 
and  exploits  of  the  Conquest,  as  recorded  in  chronicle  and 
romance.  It  is  thus  the  romantic  legends  of  Granada  mingle 
themselves  with  everything,  and  are  kept  fresh  in  the  public 
mind. 

As  we  wended  our  way  back  to  the  Alhambra,  Mateo  was  in 
high  glee  and  garrulous  vein.  "Ah,  Senor,"  exclaimed  he, 
"  there  is  no  place  in  all  the  world  like  Granada  for  grand  cere 
monies  (funciones  grandes);  a  man  need  spend  nothing  on 
pleasure  here,  it  is  all  furnished  him  gratis."  "Pero,  el  dia  de 
la  Tomaf  Ah,  Senor/  el  dia  de  la  Tomaf"  (But  the  day  of 
the  Taking  !  ah,  Senor,  the  day  of  the  Taking ! )  —  that  was 
the  great  day  which  crowned  Mateo's  notions  of  perfect  felicity. 
The  Dia  de  la  Toma,  I  found,  was  the  anniversary  of  the  capture 
or  taking  possession  of  Granada  by  the  army  of  Ferdinand  and 
Isabella. 

On  that  day,  according  to  Mateo,  the  whole  city  is  abandoned 
to  revelry.  The  great  alarm-bell  on  the  watch-tower  of  the 


EL    DIA    DE    LA    TOMA  125 

Alhambra  (la  Torre  de  la  vela)  sends  forth  its  clanging  peals 
from  morn  till  night ;  the  sound  pervades  the  whole  Vega,  and 
echoes  along  the  mountains,  summoning  the  peasantry  from  far 
and  near  .to  the  festivities  of  the  metropolis.  "  Happy  the 
damsel,"  says  Mateo,  "  who  can  get  a  chance  to  ring  that  bell ; 
it  is  a  charm  to  insure  a  husband  within  the  year." 

Throughout  the  day  the  Alhambra  is  thrown  open  to  the 
public.  Its  halls  and  courts,  where  the  Moorish  monarchs  once 
held  sway,  resound  with  the  guitar  and  castanet,  and  gay  groups, 
in  the  fanciful  dresses  of  Andalusia,  perform  their  traditional 
dances  inherited  from  the  Moors. 

A  grand  procession,  emblematic  of  the  taking  possession  of 
the  city,  moves  through  the  principal  streets.  The  banner  of 
Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  that  precious  relic  of  the  Conquest,  is 
brought  forth  from  its  depository,  and  borne  in  triumph  by  the 
Alferez  mayor,  or  grand  standard-bearer.  The  portable  camp- 
altar,  carried  about  with  the  sovereigns  in  all  their  campaigns, 
is  transported  into  the  chapel  royal  of  the  cathedral,  and  placed 
before  their  sepulchre,  where  their  effigies  lie  in  monumental 
marble.  High  mass  is  then  performeoin  memory  of  the  Con 
quest  ;  and  at  a  certain  part  of  the  ceremony  the  Alferez  mayor 
puts  on  his  hat,  and  waves  the  standard  above  the  tomb  of  the 
-  conquerors. 

A  more  whimsical  memorial  of  the  Conquest  is  exhibited  in 
the  evening  at  the  theatre.  A  popular  drama  is  performed, 
entitled  AVE  MARIA,  turning  on  a  famous  achievement  of  Her- 
nando  del  Pulgar,  surnamed  "el  de  las  Hazanas "  (he  of  the 
exploits),  a  madcap  warrior,  the  favorite  hero  of  the  populace  of 
Granada.  During  the  time  of  the  siege,  the  young  Moorish 
and  Spanish  cavaliers  vied  with  each  other  in  extravagant 
bravadoes.  On  one  occasion  this  Hernando  del  Pulgar,  at 
the  head  of  a  handful  of  followers,  made  a  clash  into  Granada 
in  the  dead  of  the  night,  nailed  the  inscription  of  AVE  MARIA 
with  his  dagger  to  the  gate  of  the  principal  mosque,  a  token  of 


126  THE    ALHAMBRA 

having  consecrated  it  to  the  Virgin,  and  effected  his  retreat  in 
safety.1 

While  the  Moorish  cavaliers  admired  this  daring  exploit,  they 
felt  bound  to  resent  it.  On  the  following  day,  therefore,  Tarfe, 
one  of  the  stoutest  among  them,  paraded  in  front  of  the  Chris 
tian  army,  dragging  the  tablet  bearing  the  sacred  inscription 
AVE  MARIA,  at  his  horse's  tail.  The  cause  of  the  Virgin  was 
eagerly  vindicated  by  Garcilaso  de  la  Vega,  who  slew  the  Moor 
in  single  combat,  and  elevated  the  tablet  in  devotion  and  triumph 
at  the  end  of  his  lance. 

The  drama  founded  on  this  exploit  is  prodigiously  popular 
with  the  common  people.  Although  it  has  been  acted  time  out 
of  mind,  it  never  fails  to  draw  crowds,  who  become  completely 
lost  in  the  delusions  of  the  scene.  When  their  favorite  Pulgar 
strides  about  with  many  a  mouthy  speech,  in  the  very  midst  of 
the  Moorish  capital,  he  is  cheered  with  enthusiastic  bravos ;  and 
when  he  nails  the  tablet  to  the  door  of  the  mosque,  the  theatre 
absolutely  shakes  with  the  thunders  of  applause.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  unlucky  actors  who  figure  in  the  part  of  the  Moors 
have  to  bear  the  brunt  of  popular  indignation ;  which  at  times 
equals  that  of  the  Hero  of  Lamanche,  at  the  puppet-show  of 
Gines  de  Passamonte ;  for,  when  the  infidel  Tarfe  plucks  down 
the  tablet  to  tie  it  to  his  horse's  tail,  some  of  the  audience  rise 
in  fury,  and  are  ready  to  jump  upon  the  stage  to  revenge  this 
insult  to  the  Virgin. 

By  the  way,  the  actual  lineal  descendant  of  Hernando  del 
Pulgar  was  the  Marquis  de  Sa'lar.  As  the  legitimate  represent 
ative  of  that  madcap  hero,  and  in  commemoration  and  reward 
of  this  hero's  exploit  above  mentioned,  he  inherited  the  right  to 
enter  the  cathedral  on  certain  occasions,  on  horseback;  to  sit 
within  the  choir,  and  to  put  on  his  hat  at  the  elevation  of  the 
host,  though  these  privileges  were  often  and  obstinately  con 
tested  by  the  clergy.  I  met  him  occasionally  in  society;  he 
was  young,  of  agreeable  appearance  and  manners,  with  bright 


VILLAGE    CEREMONIALS  127 

black  eyes,  in  which  appeared  to  lurk  some  of  the  fire  of  his 
ancestors.  Among  the  paintings  in  the  Vivarrambla,  on  the 
fete  of  Corpus  Christi,  were  some  depicting,  in  vivid  style, 
the  exploits  of  the  family  hero.  An  old  gray-headed  servant 
of  the  Pulgars  shed  tears  on  beholding  them,  and  hurried  home 
to  inform  the  marquis.  The  eager  zeal  and  enthusiasm  of  the 
old  domestic  only  provoked  a  light  laugh  from  his  young  master; 
whereupon,  turning  to  the  brother  of  the  marquis,  with  that 
freedom  allowed  in  Spain  to  old  family  servants,  "  Come,  Senor," 
cried  he,  "  you  are  more  considerate  than  your  brother ;  come 
and  see  your  ancestor  in  all  his  glory  ! " 

In  emulation  of  this  great  Dia  de  la  Toma  of  Granada, 
almost  every  village  and  petty  town  of  the  mountains  has  its 
own  anniversary,  commemorating  with  rustic  pomp  and  uncouth 
ceremonial  its  deliverance  from  the  Moorish  yoke.  On  these 
occasions,  according  to  Mateo,  a  kind  of  resurrection  takes  place 
of  ancient  armor  and  weapons :  great  two-handed  swords,  pon 
derous  arquebuses  with  matchlocks,  and  other  warlike  relics, 
treasured  up  from  generation  to  generation,  since  the  time  of 
the  Conquest ;  and  happy  the  community  that  possesses  some 
old  piece  of  ordinance,  peradventure  one  of  the  identical  lombards 
used  by  the  conquerors  ;  it  is  kept  thundering  along  the  moun 
tains  all  day  long,  provided  the  community  can  afford  sufficient 
expenditure  of  powder. 

In  the  course  of  the  day  a  kind  of  warlike  drama  is  enacted. 
Some  of  the  populace  parade  the  streets,  fitted  out  with  the  old 
armor,  as  champions  of  the  faith.  Others  appear  dressed  up  as 
Moorish  warriors.  A  tent  is  pitched  in  the  public  square,  in 
closing  an  altar  with  an  image  of  the  Virgin.  The  Christian 
warriors  approach  to  perform  their  devotions ;  the  infidels  sur 
round  the  tent  to  prevent  their  entrance ;  a  mock  fight  ensues ; 
the  combatants  sometimes  forget  that  they  are  merely  playing 
a  part,  and  dry  blows  of  grievous  weight  are  apt  to  be  ex 
changed.  The  contest,  however,  invariably  terminates  in  favor 


128  THE    ALHAMBRA 

of  the  good  cause.  The  Moors  are  defeated  and  taken  prisoners. 
The  image  of  the  Virgin,  rescued  from  thraldom,  is  elevated  in 
triumph ;  a  grand  procession  succeeds,  in  which  the  conquerors  fig 
ure  with  great  applause  and  vainglory;  while  their  captives  are  led 
in  chains,  to  the  evident  delight  and  edification  of  the  spectators. 

These  celebrations  are  heavy  drains  on  the  treasuries  of  these 
petty  communities,  and  have  sometimes  to  be  suspended  for 
want  of  funds ;  but,  when  times  grow  better,  or  sufficient  money 
has  been  hoarded  for  the  purpose,  they  are  resumed  with  new 
zeal  and  prodigality. 

Mateo  informed  me  that  he  had  occasionally  assisted  at  these 
fetes  and  taken  a  part  in  the  combats ;  but  always  on  the  true 
faith.  "  Porque  Senor"  added  the  ragged  descendant  of  the  Car 
dinal  Ximenes,  tapping  his  breast  with  something  of  an  air,  — 
"porque  Senor,  soy  Christiana  viejo." 

1  See  a  more  detailed  account  of  the  exploit  in  the  chronicle  of 
the  Conquest  of  Granada. 


LOCAL  TRADITIONS 

THE  common  people  of  Spain  have  an  Oriental  passion  for 
story-telling,  and  are  fond  of  the  marvellous.  They  will  gather 
round  the  doors  of  their  cottages  in  summer  evenings,  or  in  the 
great  cavernous  chimney-corners  of  the  ventas  in  the  winter,  and 
listen  with  insatiable  delight  to  miraculous  legends  of  saints, 
perilous  adventures  of  travellers,  and  daring  exploits  of  robbers 
and  contrabandistas.  The  wild  and  solitary  character  of  the 
country,  the  imperfect  diffusion  of  knowledge,  the  scarceness 
of  general  topics  of  conversation,  and  the  romantic,  adventurous 
life  that  every  one  leads  in  a  land  where  travelling  is  yet  in  its 
primitive  state,  all  contribute  to  cherish  this  love  of  oral  narra 
tion,  and  to  produce  a  strong  infusion  of  the  extravagant  and 
incredible.  There  is  no  theme,  however,  more  prevalent  and 


LOCAL    TRADITIONS  129 

popular  than  that  of  treasures  buried  by  the  Moors ;  it  pervades 
the  whole  country.  In  traversing  the  wild  sierras,  the  scenes 
of  ancient  foray  and  exploit,  you  cannot  see  a  Moorish  atalaya,  or 
watch-tower,  perched  among  the  cliffs,  or  beetling  above  its  rock- 
built  village,  but  your  muleteer,  on  being  closely  questioned,  will 
suspend  the  smoking  of  his  cigarillo  to  tell  some  tale  of  Moslem 
gold  buried  beneath  its  foundations;  nor  is  there  a  ruined  alcazar 
in  a  city  but  has  its  golden  tradition,  handed  down  from  genera 
tion  to  generation  among  the  poor  people  of  the  neighborhood. 

These,  like  most  popular  fictions,  have  sprung  from  some 
scanty  groundwork  of  fact.  During  the  wars  between  Moor 
and  Christian,  which  distracted  this  country  for  centuries, 
towns  and  castles  were  liable  frequently  and  suddenly  to  change 
owners,  and  the  inhabitants,  during  sieges  and  assaults,  were 
fain  to  bury  their  money  and  jewels  in  the  earth,  or  hide  them  in 
vaults  and  wells,  as  is  often  done  at  the  present  day  in  the  des 
potic  and  belligerent  countries  of  the  East.  At  the  time  of  the 
expulsion  of  the  Moors  also,  many  of  them  concealed  their  most 
precious  effects,  hoping  that  their  exile  would  be  but  temporary, 
and  that  they  would  be  enabled  to  return  and  retrieve  their 
treasures  at  some  future  day.  It  is  certain  that  from  time  to 
time  hoards  of  gold  and  silver  coin  have  been  accidentally  digged 
up,  after  a  lapse  of  centuries,  from  among  the  ruins  of  Moorish 
fortresses  and  habitations ;  and  it  requires  but  a  few  facts  of 
the  kind  to  give  birth  to  a  thousand  fictions. 

The  stories  thus  originating  have  generally  something  of  an 
Oriental  tinge,  and  are  marked  with  that  mixture  of  the  Arabic 
and  the  Gothic  which  seems  to  me  to  characterize  everything 
in  Spain,  and  especially  in  its  southern  provinces.  The  hidden 
wealth  is  always  laid  under  magic  spell,  and  secured  by  charm 
and  talisman.  Sometimes  it  is  guarded  by  uncouth  monsters  or 
fiery  dragons,  sometimes  by  enchanted  Moors,  who  sit  by  it  in 
armor,  with  drawn  swords,  but  motionless  as  statues,  main 
taining  a  sleepless  watch  for  ages. 


130  THE   ALHAMBRA 

The  Alhambra  of  course,  from  the  peculiar  circumstances  of 
its  history,  is  a  strong-hold  for  popular  fictions  of  the  kind; 
and  various  relics,  digged  up  from  time  to  time,  have  contrib 
uted  to  strengthen  them.  At  one  time  an  earthen  vessel  was 
found  containing  Moorish  coins  and  the  skeleton  of  a  cock, 
which,  according  to  the  opinion  of  certain  shrewd  inspectors, 
must  have  been  buried  alive.  At  another  time  a  vessel  was 
dug  up  containing  a  great  scarabseus  or  beetle  of  baked  clay, 
covered  with  Arabic  inscriptions,  which  was  pronounced  a  pro 
digious  amulet  of  occult  virtues.  In  this  way  the  wits  of  the 
ragged  brood  who  inhabit  the  Alhambra  have  been  set  wool 
gathering,  until  there  is  not  a  hall,  nor  tower,  nor  vault,  of  the 
old  fortress,  that  has  not  been  made  the  scene  of  some  mar 
vellous  tradition.  Having,  I  trust,  in  the  preceding  papers 
made  the  reader  in  some  degree  familiar  with  the  localities  of 
the  Alhambra,  I  shall  now  launch  out  more  largely  into  the 
wonderful  legends  connected  with  it,  and  which  I  have  dili 
gently  wrought  into  shape  and  form,  from  various  legendary 
scraps  and  hints  picked  up  in  the  course  of  my  perambulations, 
—  in  the  same  manner  that  an  antiquary  works  out  a  regular 
historical  document  from  a  few  scattered  letters  of  an  almost 
defaced  inscription. 

If  anything  in  these  legends  should  shock  the  faith  of  the 
over-scrupulous  reader,  he  must  remember  the  nature  of  the 
place,  and  make  due  allowances.  He  must  not  expect  here 
the  same  laws  of  probability  that  govern  commonplace  scenes 
and  every-day  life ;  he  must  remember  that  he  treads  the  halls 
of  an  enchanted  palace,  and  that  all  is  "  haunted  ground." 


THE   HOUSE   OF   THE   WEATHERCOCK 

ON  the  brow  of  the  lofty  hill  of  the  Albaycin,  the  highest 
part  of  Granada,  and  which  rises  from  the  narrow  valley  of  the 


THE   HOUSE    OF    THE    WEATHERCOCK  131 

Darro,  directly  opposite  to  the  Alhambra,  stands  all  that  is  left 
of  what  was  once  a  royal  palace  of  the  Moors.  It  has,  in  fact, 
fallen  into  such  obscurity,  that  it  cost  me  much  trouble  to  find 
it,  though  aided  in  my  researches  by  the  sagacious  and  all- 
knowing  Mateo  Ximenes.  This  edifice  has  borne  for  centuries 
the  name  of  "The  House  of  the  Weathercock"  (La  casa  del 
Gallo  de  Viento),  from  a  bronze  figure  on  one  of  its  turrets,  in 
ancient  times,  of  a  warrior  on  horseback,  and  turning  with  every 
breeze.  This  weathercock  was  considered  by  the  Moslems  of 
Granada  a  portentous  talisman.  According  to  some  traditions, 
it  bore  the  following  Arabic  inscription : 

Calet  el  Bedici  Aben  Habuz, 
Quidat  ehahet  Lindabuz. 

Which  has  been  rendered  in  Spanish  : 

Dice  el  sabio  Aben  Habuz, 
Que  asi  se  defiende  el  Anduluz. 

And  into  English : 

ID  this  way,  says  Aben  Habuz  the  Wise, 
Andaluz  guards  against  surprise. 

This  Aben  Habuz,  according  to  some  of  the  old  Moorish 
chronicles,  was  a  captain  in  the  invading  army  of  Taric,  one 
of  the  conquerors  of  Spain,  who  left  him  as  Alcayde  of  Granada. 
He  is  supposed  to  have  intended  this  effigy  as  a  perpetual  warn 
ing  to  the  Moslems  of  Andaluz,  that,  surrounded  by  foes,  their 
safety  depended  upon  their  being  always  on  their  guard  and 
ready  for  the  field. 

Others,  among  whom  is  the  Christian  historian  Marmol, 
affirms  "Badis  Aben  Habus"  to  have  been  a  Moorish  sultan 
of  Granada,  and  that  the  weathercock  was  intended  as  a  per 
petual  admonition  of  the  instability  of  Moslem  power,  bearing 
the  following  words  in  Arabic  ; 


132  THE    ALHAMBRA 

"  Thus  Ibn  Habus  al  badise  predicts  Andalus  shall  one  day 
vanish  and  pass  away." l 

Another  version  of  this  portentous  inscription  is  given  by  a 
Moslem  historian,  on  the  authority  of  Sidi  Hasan,  a  faquir  who 
flourished  about  the  time  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  and  who 
was  present  at  the  taking  down  of  the  weathercock,  when  the 
old  Kassaba  was  undergoing  repairs. 

"I  saw  it,"  says  the  venerable  faquir,  "with  my  own  eyes; 
it  was  of  a  heptagonal  shape,  and  had  the  following  inscription 
in  verse : 

"  The  palace  at  fair  Granada  presents  a  talisman." 

"  The  horseman,  though  a  solid  body,  turns  with  every  wind." 

"  This  to  a  wise  man  reveals  a  mystery.  In  a  little  while 
comes  a  calamity  to  ruin  both  the  palace  and  its  owner." 

In  effect  it  was  not  long  after  this  meddling  with  the  por 
tentous  weathercock  that  the  following  event  occurred.  As 
old  Muley  Abul  Hassan,  the  king  of  Granada,  was  seated  under 
a  sumptuous  pavilion,  reviewing  his  troops,  who  paraded  be 
fore  him  in  armor  of  polished  steel  and  gorgeous  silken  robes, 
mounted  on  fleet  steeds,  and  equipped  with  swords,  spears,  and 
shields  embossed  with  gold  and  silver,  —  suddenly  a  tempest 
was  seen  hurrying  from  the  southwest.  In  a  little  while  black 
clouds  overshadowed  the  heavens  and  burst  forth  with  a  deluge 
of  rain.  Torrents  came  roaring  down  from  the  mountains, 
bringing  with  them  rocks  and  trees ;  the  Darro  overflowed  '  its 
banks ;  mills  were  swept  away,  bridges  destroyed,  gardens 
laid  waste  ;  the  inundation  rushed  into  the  city,  undermining 
houses,  drowning  their  inhabitants,  and  overflowing  even  the 
square  of  the  Great  Mosque.  The  people  rushed  in  affright  to 
the  mosques  to  implore  the  mercy  of  Allah,  regarding  this 
uproar  of  the  elements  as  the  harbinger  of  dreadful  calamities ; 
and,  indeed,  according  to  the  Arabian  historian  Al  Makkari,  it 
was  but  a  type  and  prelude  of  the  direful  war  which  ended  in 
the  downfall  of  the  Moslem  kingdom  of  Granada. 


LEGEND    OF    THE    ARABIAN   ASTROLOGER       133 

I  have  thus  given  historic  authorities  sufficient  to  show  the 
portentous  mysteries  connected  with  the  House  of  the  Weather 
cock,  and  its  talismanic  horseman. 

I  now  proceed  to  relate  still  more  surprising  things  about 
Aben  Habuz  and  his  palace;  for  the  truth  of  which,  should 
any  doubt  be  entertained,  I  refer  the  dubious  reader  to  Mateo 
Ximenes  and  his  fellow-historiographers  of  the  Alhambra. 

1  Marmol,  Hist.  Rebellion  of  the  Moors. 


LEGEND   OF   THE   ARABIAN  ASTROLOGER 

IN  old  times,  many  hundred  years  ago,  there  was  a  Moorish 
king  named  Aben  Habuz,  who  reigned  over  the  kingdom  of 
Granada.  He  was  a  retired  conqueror,  that  is  to  say,  one  who, 
having  in  his  more  youthful  days  led  a  life  of  constant  foray  and 
depredation,  now  that  he  was  grown  feeble  and  superannuated, 
"  languished  for  repose,"  and  desired  nothing  more  than  to  live 
at  peace  with  all  the  world,  to  husband  his  laurels,  and  to  en 
joy  in  quiet  the  possessions  he  had  wrested  from  his  neighbors. 

It  so  happened,  however,  that  this  most  reasonable  and  pacific 
old  monarch  had  young  rivals  to  deal  with ;  princes  full  of  his 
early  passion  for  fame  and  fighting,  and  who  were  disposed  to 
call  him  to  account  for  the  scores  he  had  run  up  with  their 
fathers.  Certain  distant  districts  of  his  own  territories,  also, 
which  during  the  days  of  his  vigor  he  had  treated  with  a  high 
hand,  were  prone,  now  that  he  languished  for  repose,  to  rise  in 
rebellion  and  threaten  to  invest  him  in  his  capital.  Thus  he 
had  foes  on  every  side ;  and  as  Granada  is  surrounded  by  wild 
and  craggy  mountains,  which  hide  the  approach  of  an  enemy, 
the  unfortunate  Aben  Habuz  was  kept  in  a  constant  state  of 
vigilance  and  alarm,  not  knowing  in  what  quarter  hostilities-, 
might  break  out. 

It  was  in  vain  that  he  built  watch-towers  on  the  mountains, 


134  THE    ALHAMBRA 

and  stationed  guards  at  every  pass  with  orders  to  make  fires  by 
night  and  smoke  by  day,  on  the  approach  of  an  enemy.  His 
alert  foes,  baffling  every  precaution,  would  break  out  of  some 
un though t-of  defile,  ravage  his  lands  beneath  his  very  nose,  and 
then  make  off  with  prisoners  and  booty  to  the  mountains.  Was 
ever  peaceable  and  retired  conqueror  in  a  more  uncomfortable 
predicament  1 

While  Aben  Habuz  was  harassed  by  these  perplexities  and 
molestations,  an  ancient  Arabian  physician  arrived  at  his  court. 
His  gray  beard  descended  to  his  girdle,  and  he  had  every  mark 
of  extreme  age,  yet  he  had  travelled  almost  the  whole  way 
from  Egypt  on  foot,  with  no  other  aid  than  a  staff,  marked 
with  hieroglyphics.  His  fame  had  preceded  him.  His  name 
was  Ibrahim  Ebn  Abu  Ayub ;  he  is  said  to  have  lived  ever 
since  the  days  of  Mahomet,  and  to  be  son  of  Abu  Ayub ;  the 
•  last  of  the  companions  of  the  Prophet.  He  had,  when  a  child, 
followed  the  conquering  army  of  Amru  into  Egypt,  where  he 
had  remained  many  years  studying  the  dark  sciences,  and  par 
ticularly  magic,  among  the  Egyptian  priests. 

It  was,  moreover,  said  that  he  had  found  out  the  secret  of 
prolonging  life,  by  means  of  which  he  had  arrived  to  the  great 
age  of  upwards  of  two  centuries,  though,  as  he  did  not  discover 
the  secret  until  well  stricken  in  years,  he  could  only  perpetuate 
his  gray  hairs  and  wrinkles. 

This  wonderful  old  man  was  honorably  entertained  by  the 
king;  who,  like  most  superannuated  monarchs,  began  to  take 
physicians  into  great  favor.  He  would  have  assigned  him  an 
apartment  in  his  palace,  but  the  astrologer  preferred  a  cave  in 
the  side  of  the  hill  which  rises  above  the  city  of  Granada,  being 
the  same  on  which  the  Alhambra  has  since  been  built.  He 
caused  the  cave  to  be  enlarged  so  as  to  form  a  spacious  and  lofty 
hall,  with  a  circular  hole  at  the  top,  through  which,  as  through 
a  well,  he  could  see  the  heavens  and  behold  the  stars  even  at 
mid-day.  The  walls  of  this  hall  were  covered  with  Egyptian 


THE    MARVEL    OF    BORSA  135 

hieroglyphics  with  cabalistic  symbols,  and  with  the  figures  of  the 
stars  in  their  signs.  This  hall  he  furnished  with  many  implements, 
fabricated  under  his  directions  by  cunning  artificers  of  Granada, 
but  the  occult  properties  of  which  were  known  only  to  himself. 

In  a  little  while  the  sage  Ibrahim  became  the  bosom  counsellor 
of  the  king,  who  applied  to  him  for  advice  in  every  emergency. 
Aben  Habuz  was  once  inveighing  against  the  injustice  of  his 
neighbors,  and  bewailing  the  restless  vigilance  he  had  to  ob 
serve  to  guard  himself  against  their  invasions ;  when  he  had 
finished,  the  astrologer  remained  silent  for  a  moment,  and  then 
replied,  "Know,  0  king,  that,  when  I  was  in  Egypt,  I  beheld 
a  great  marvel  devised  by  a  pagan  priestess  of  old.  On  a 
mountain,  above  the  city  of  Borsa,  and  overlooking  the  great 
valley  of  the  Nile,  was  a  figure  of  a  ram,  and  above  it  a  figure 
of  a  cock,  both  of  molten  brass,  and  turning  upon  a  pivot. 
Whenever  the  country  was  threatened  with  invasion,  the  ram 
would  turn  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy,  and  the  cock  would 
crow  ;  upon  this  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  knew  of  the  danger, 
and  of  the  quarter  from  which  it  was  approaching,  and  could 
take  timely  means  to  guard  against  it." 

"God  is  great!"  exclaimed  the  pacific  Aben  Habuz,  "what 
a  treasure  would  be  such  a  ram  to  keep  an  eye  upon  these 
mountains  around  me ;  and  then  such  a  cock,  to  crow  in  time 
of  danger  !  Allah  Akbar  !  how  securely  I  might  sleep  in  my 
palace  with  such  sentinels  on  the  top  ! " 

The  astrologer  waited  until  the  ecstasies  of  the  king  had  sub 
sided,  and  then  proceeded. 

"  After  the  victorious  Amru  (may  he  rest  in  peace  !)  had 
finished  his  conquest  of  Egypt,  I  remained  among  the  priests  of 
the  land,  studying  the  rites  and  ceremonies  of  their  idolatrous 
faith,  and  seeking  to  make  myself  master  of  the  hidden  knowl 
edge  for  which  they  are  renowned.  I  was  one  day  seated  on 
the  banks  of  the  Nile,  conversing  with  an  ancient  priest,  when 
he  pointed  to  the  mighty  pyramids  which  rose  like  mountains 


136  THE    ALHAMBRA 

out  of  the  neighboring  desert.  '  All  that  we  can  teach  thee,' 
said  he,  '  is  nothing  to  the  knowledge  locked  up  in  those  mighty 
piles.  In  the  centre  of  the  central  pyramid  is  a  sepulchral 
chamber,  in  which  is  inclosed  the  mummy  of  the  high -priest 
who  aided  in  rearing  that  stupendous  pile ;  and  with  him  is 
buried  a  wondrous  book  of  knowledge,  containing  all  the  secrets 
of  magic  and  art.  This  book  was  given  to  Adam  after  his  fall, 
and  was  handed  down  from  generation  to  generation  to  King 
Solomon  the  Wise,  and  by  its  aid  he  built  the  Temple  of 
Jerusalem.  How  it  came  into  the  possession  of  the  builder  of 
the  pyramids  is  known  to  him  alone  who  knows  all  things.' 

"  When  I  heard  these  words  of  the  Egyptian  priest,  my 
heart  burned  to  get  possession  of  that  book.  I  could  command 
the  services  of  many  of  the  soldiers  of  our  conquering  army,  and 
of  a  number  of  the  native  Egyptians  :  with  these  I  set  to  work, 
and  pierced  the  solid  mass  of  the  pyramid,  until,  after  great  toil,  I 
came  upon  one  of  its  interior  and  hidden  passages.  Following 
this  up,  and  threading  a  fearful  labyrinth,  I  penetrated  into  the 
very  heart  of  the  pyramids,  even  to  the  sepulchral  chamber, 
where  the  mummy  of  the  high-priest  had  lain  for  ages.  I  broke 
•through  the  outer  cases  of  the  mummy,  unfolded  its  many  wrap 
pers  and  bandages,  and  at  length  found  the  precious  volume  on  its 
bosom.  I  seized  it  with  a  trembling  hand,  and  groped  my  way  out 
of  the  pyramid,  leaving  the  mummy  in  its  dark  and  silent  sepul 
chre,  there  to  await  the  final  day  of  resurrection  and  judgment." 

"Son  of  Abu  Ayub,"  exclaimed  Aben  Habuz,  "thou  hast 
been  a  great  traveller,  and  seen  marvellous  things  ;  but  of  what 
avail  to  me  is  the  secret  of  the  pyramid,  and  the  volume  of 
knowledge  of  the  wise  Solomon  ? " 

"This  it  is,  0  king !  By  the  study  of  that  book  I  am  in 
structed  in  all  magic  arts,  and  can  command  the  assistance  of 
genii  to  accomplish  my  plans.  The  mystery  of  the  Talisman 
of  Borsa  is  therefore  familiar  to  me,  and  such  a  talisman  can  I 
make,  nay,  one  of  greater  virtues." 


THE    WARLIKE    TALISMAN  137 

"  0  wise  son  of  Abu  Ayub,"  cried  Aben  Habuz,  "  better  were 
such  a  talisman  than  all  the  watch-towers  on  the  hills,  and 
sentinels  upon  the  borders.  Give  me  such  a  safeguard,  and  the 
riches  of  my  treasury  are  at  thy  command." 

The  astrologer  immediately  set  to  work  to  gratify  the  wishes 
of  the  monarch.  He  caused  a  great  tower  to  be  erected  upon 
the  top  of  the  royal  palace,  which  stood  on  the  brow  of  the  hill 
of  the  Albaycin.  The  tower  was  built  of  stones  brought  from 
Egypt,  and  taken,  it  is  said,  from  one  of  the  pyramids.  In  the 
upper  part  of  the  tower  was  a  circular  hall,  with  windows  look 
ing  towards  every  point  of  the  compass,  and  before  each  win 
dow  was  a  table,  on  which  was  arranged,  as  on  a  chess-board, 
a  mimic  army  of  horse  and  foot,  with  the  effigy  of  the  potentate 
that  ruled  in  that  direction,  all  carved  of  wood.  To  each  of 
these  tables  there  was  a  small  lance,  no  bigger  than  a  bodkin, 
on  which  were  engraved  certain  Chaldaic  characters.  This  hall 
was  kept  constantly  closed,  by  a"~gafe  of  brass,  with  a  great 
lock  of  steel,  the  key  of  which  was  in  possession  of  the  king. 

On  the  top  of  the  tower  was  a  bronze  figure  of  a  Moorish 
horseman,  fixed  on  a  pivot,  with  a  shield  on  one  arm,  and  his 
lance  elevated  perpendicularly.  The  face  of  this  horseman  was 
towards  the  city,  as  if  keeping  guard  over  it ;  but  if  any  foe 
were  at  hand,  the  figure  would  turn  in  that  direction,  and  would 
level  the  lance  as  if  for  action. 

When  this  talisman  was  finished,  Aben  Habuz  was  all  im 
patient  to  try  its  virtues,  and  longed  as  ardently  for  an  inva 
sion  as  he  had  ever  sighed  after  repose.  His  desire  was  soon 
gratified.  Tidings  were  brought,  early  one  morning,  by  the 
sentinel  appointed  to  watch  the  tower,  that  the  face  of  the 
bronze  horseman  was  turned  towards  the  mountains  of  Elvira, 
and  that  his  lance  pointed  directly  against  the  Pass  of  Lope. 

"  Let  the  drums  and  trumpets  sound  to  arms,  and  all  Gran 
ada  be  put  on  the  alert,"  said  Aben  Habuz. 

"0  king,"  said  the  astrologer,   "let  not  your  city  be  dis- 


138  THE    ALHAMBRA 

quieted,  nor  your  warriors  called  to  arms ;  we  need  no  aid  of 
force  to  deliver  you  from  your  enemies.  Dismiss  your  attend 
ants,  and  let  us  proceed  alone  to  the  secret  hall  of  the  tower." 

The  ancient  Aben  Habuz  mounted  the  staircase  of  the  tower, 
leaning  on  the  arm  of  the  still  more  ancient  Ibrahim  Ebn  Abu 
Ayub.  They  unlocked  the  brazen  door  and  entered.  The  win 
dow  that  looked  towards  the  Pass  of  Lope  was  open.  "In 
this  direction,"  said  the  astrologer,  "lies  the  danger;  approach, 
0  king,  and  behold  the  mystery  of  the  table." 

King  Aben  Habuz  approached  the  seeming  chess-board  on 
which  were  arranged  the  small  wooden  effigies,  when,  to  his 
surprise,  he  perceived  that  they  were  all  in  motion.  The  horses 
pranced  and  curveted,  the  warriors  brandished  their  weapons, 
and  there  was  a  faint  sound  of  drums  and  trumpets,  and  the 
clang  of  arms,  and  neighing  of  steeds ;  but  all  no  louder,  nor 
more  distinct,  than  the  hum  of  the  bee,  or  the  summer-fly,  in 
the  drowsy  ear  of  him  who  lies  at  noontide  in  the  shade. 

"Behold,  0  king,"  said  the  astrologer,  "a  proof  that  thy 
enemies  are  even  now  in  the  field.  They  must  be  advancing 
through  yonder  mountains,  by  the  Pass  of  Lope.  Would  you 
produce  a  panic  and  confusion  amongst  them,  and  cause  them 
to  retreat  without  loss  of  life,  strike  these  effigies  with  the  but- 
end  of  this  magic  lance ;  would  you  cause  bloody  feud  and  car 
nage,  strike  with  the  point." 

A  livid  streak  passed  across  the  countenance  of  Aben  Habuz  • 
he  seized  the  lance  with  trembling  eagerness ;  his  gray  beard 
wagged  with  exultation  as  he  tottered  towards  the  table  :  "  Son 
of  Abu  Ayub,"  exclaimed  he,  in  chuckling  tone,  "  I  think  we 
will  have  a  little  blood  ! " 

So  saying,  he  thrust  the  magic  lance  into  some  of  the  pigmy 
effigies,  and  belabored  others  with  the  but-end,  upon  which  the 
former  fell  as  dead  upon  the  board,  and  the  rest,  turning  upon 
each  other,  began,  pell-mell,  a  chance-medley  fight. 

It  was  with  difficulty  the  astrologer  could  stay  the  hand  of 


THE   HERMITAGE  139 

the  most  pacific  of  monarchs,  and  prevent  him  from  absolutely 
exterminating  his  foes;  at  length  he  prevailed  upon  him  to 
leave  the  tower,  and  to  send  out  scouts  to  the  mountains  by 
the  Pass  of  Lope. 

They  returned  with  the  intelligence  that  a  Christian  army 
had  advanced  through  the  heart  of  the  Sierra,  almost  within 
sight  of  Granada,  where  a  dissension  had  broken  out  among 
them ;  they  had  turned  their  weapons  against  each  other,  and 
after  much  slaughter  had  returned  over  the  border. 

Aben  Habuz  was  transported  with  joy  on  thus  proving  the 
efficacy  of  the  talisman.  "  At  length,"  said  he,  "I  shall  lead 
a  life  of  tranquillity,  and  have  all  my  enemies  in  my  power. 
0  wise  son  of  Abu  Ayub,  what  can  I  bestow  on  thee  in  reward 
for  such  a  blessing  ? " 

"  The  wants  of  an  old  man  and  a  philosopher,  0  king,  are 
few  and  simple ;  grant  me  but  the  means  of  fitting  up  my  cave 
as  a  suitable  hermitage,  and  I  am  content." 

"  How  noble  is  the  moderation  of  the  truly  wise  !  "  exclaimed 
Aben  Habuz,  secretly  pleased  at  the  cheapness  of  the  recom 
pense.  He  summoned  his  treasurer,  and  bade  him  dispense 
whatever  sums  might  be  required  by  Ibrahim  to  complete  and 
furnish  his  hermitage. 

The  astrologer  now  gave  orders  to  have  various  chambers 
hewn  out  of  the  solid  rock,  so  as  to  form  ranges  of  apartments 
connected  with  his  astrological  hall ;  these  he  caused  to  be  fur 
nished  with  luxurious  ottomans  and  divans,  and  the  walls  to  be 
hung  with  the  richest  silks  of  Damascus.  "  I  am  an  old  man," 
said  he,  "and  can  no  longer  rest  my  bones  on  stone  couches,  and 
these  damp  walls  require  covering." 

He  had  baths  too  constructed,  and  provided  with  all  kinds  of 
perfumes  and  aromatic  oils.  " For  a  bath,"  said  he,  "is  neces 
sary  to  counteract  the  rigidity  of  age,  and  to  restore  freshness 
and  suppleness  to  the  frame  withered  by  study." 

He  caused  the  apartments  to  be  hung  with  innumerable  silver 


140  THE    ALHAMBRA 

and  crystal  lamps,  which  he  filled  with  a  fragrant  oil  prepared 
according  to  a  receipt  discovered  by  him  in  the  tombs  of  Egypt. 
This  oil  was  perpetual  in  its  nature,  and  diffused  a  soft  radiance 
like  the  tempered  light  of  day.  "  The  light  of  the  sun,"  said 
he,  "is  too  gairish  and  violent  for  the  eyes  of  an  old  man,  and 
the  light  of  the  lamp  is  more  congenial  to  the  studies  of  a 
philosopher." 

The  treasurer  of  King  Aben  Habuz  groaned  at  the  sums  daily 
demanded  to  fit  up  this  hermitage,  and  he  carried  his  complaints 
to  the  king.  The  royal  word,  however,  had  been  given ;  Aben 
Habuz  shrugged  his  shoulders  :  "We  must  have  patience,"  said 
he ;  "  this  old  man  has  taken  his  idea  of  a  philosophic  retreat 
from  the  interior  of  the  pyramids,  and  of  the  vast  ruins  of 
Egypt ;  but  all  things  have  an  end,  and  so  will  the  furnishing 
of  his  cavern." 

The  king  was  in  the  right ;  the  hermitage  was  at  length 
complete,  and  formed  a  sumptuous  subterranean  palace.  The 
astrologer  expressed  himself  perfectly  content,  and,  shutting 
himself  up,  remained  for  three  whole  days  buried  in  study. 
At  the  end  of  that  time  he  appeared  again  before  the  treasurer. 
"One  thing  more  is  necessary,"  said  he,  "one  trifling  solace  for 
the  intervals  of  mental  labor." 

"  0  wise  Ibrahim,  I  am  bound  to  furnish  everything  necessary 
for  thy  solitude  ;  what  more  dost  thou  require  ? " 

"I  would  fain  have  a  few  dancing-women." 

"  Dancing-women  ! "  echoed  the  treasurer,  with  surprise. 

"Dancing- women,"  replied  the  sage,  gravely;  "and  let  them 
be  young  and  fair  to  look  upon ;  for  the  sight  of  youth  and 
beauty  is  refreshing.  A  few  will  suffice,  for  I  am  a  philosopher 
of  simple  habits  and  easily  satisfied." 

While  the  philosophic  Ibrahim  Ebn  Abu  Ayub  passed  his 
time  thus  sagely  in  his  hermitage,  the  pacific  Aben  Habuz 
carried  on  furious  campaigns  in  effigy  in  his  tower.  It  was  a 
glorious  thing  for  an  old  man,  like  himself,  of  quiet  habits,  to 


THE    SOLACE    OF    A    PHILOSOPHER  141 

have  war  made  easy,  and  to  be  enabled  to  amuse  himself  in  his 
chamber  by  brushing  away  whole  armies  like  so  many  swarms 
of  flies. 

For  a  time  he  rioted  in  the  indulgence  of  his  humors,  and 
even  taunted  and  insulted  his  neighbors,  to  induce  them  to 
make  ijiQimdojis ;  but  by  degrees  they  grew  wary  from  repeated 
disasters,  until  no  one  ventured  to  invade  his  territories.  For 
many  months  the  bronze  horseman  remained  on  the  peace 
establishment,  with  his  lance  elevated  in  the  air;  and  the 
worthy  old  monarch  began  to  repine  at  the  want  of  his  accus 
tomed  sport,  and  to  grow  peevish  at  his  monotonous  tranquillity. 

At  length,  one  day,  the  talismanic  horseman  veered  suddenly 
round,  and  lowering  his  lance,  made  a  dead  point  towards  the 
mountains  of  Guadix.  Aben  Habuz  hastened  to  his  tower,  but 
the  magic  table  in  that  direction  remained  quiet :  not  a  single 
warrior  was  in  motion.  Perplexed  at  the  circumstance,  he  sent 
forth  a  troop  of  horse  to  scour  the  mountains  and  reconnoitre. 
They  returned  after  three  days'  absence. 

"We  have  searched  every  mountain  pass,"  said  they,  "but 
not  a  helm  nor  a  spear  was  stirring.  All  that  we  have  found 
in  the  course  of  our  foray,  was  a  Christian  damsel  of  surpassing 
beauty,  sleeping  at  noontide  beside  a  fountain,  whom  we  have 
brought  away  captive." 

"A  damsel  of  surpassing  beauty!"  exclaimed  Aben  Habuz, 
his  eyes  gleaming  with  animation ;  "  let  her  be  conducted  into 
my  presence." 

The  beautiful  damsel  was  accordingly  conducted  into  his  pres 
ence.  She  was  arrayed  with  all  the  luxury  of  ornament  that 
had  prevailed  among  the  Gothic  Spaniards  at  the  time  of  the 
Arabian  conquest.  Pearls  of  dazzling  whiteness  were  entwined 
with  her  raven  tresses ;  and  jewels  sparkled  on  her  forehead, 
rivalling  the  lustre  of  her  eyes.  Around  her  neck  was  a  golden 
chain,  to  which  was  suspended  a  silver  lyre,  which  hung  by  her 
side. 


142  THE    ALHAMBRA 

The  flashes  of  her  dark  refulgent,  eye  were  like  sparks  of  fire 
on  the  withered,  yet  combustible,  heart  of  Aben  Habuz ;  the 
swimming  voluptuousness  of  her  gait  made  his  senses  reel. 
"Fairest  of  women,"  cried  he,  with  rapture,  "who  and  what 
art  thou  ? " 

"  The  daughter  of  one  of  the  Gothic  princes,  who  but  lately 
ruled  over  this  land.  The  armies  of  my  father  have  been  de 
stroyed,  as  if  by  magic,  among  these  mountains ;  he  has  been 
driven  into  exile,  and  his  daughter  is  a  captive." 

"  Beware,  0  king ! "  whispered  Ibrahim  Ebn  Abu  Ayub, 
"  this  may  be  one  of  those  northern  sorceresses^  of  whom  we 
have  heard,  who  assume  the  most  seductive  forms  to  beguile 
the  unwary.  Methinks  I  read  witchcraft  in  her  eye,  and  sor 
cery  in  every  movement.  Doubtless  this  is  the  enemy  pointed 
out  by  the  talisman." 

"  Son  of  Abu  Ayub,"  replied  the  king,  "thou  art  a  wise  man, 
I  grant,  a  conjurer  for  aught  I  know ;  but  thou  art  little  versed 
in  the  ways  of  woman.  In  that  knowledge  will  I  yield  to  no 
man ;  no,  not  to  the  wise  Solomon  himself,  notwithstanding  the 
number  of  his  wives  and  concubines.  As  to  this  damsel,  I  see 
no  harm  in  her ;  she  is  fair  to  look  upon,  and  finds  favor  in  my 
eyes." 

"  Hearken,  0  king  ! "  replied  the  astrologer.  "  I  have  given 
thee  many  victories  by  means  of  my  talisman,  but  have  never 
shared  any  of  the  spoil.  Give  me  then  this  stray  captive,  to 
solace  me  in  my  solitude  with  her  silver  lyre.  If  she  be  in 
deed  a  sorceress,  I  have  counter  spells  that  set  her  charms  at 
defiance." 

"What!  more  women!"  cried  Aben  Habuz.  "Hast  thou 
not  already  dancing-women  enough  to  solace  thee  ? " 

"  Dancing- women  have  I,  it  is  true,  but  no  singing-women. 
I  would  fain  have  a  little  minstrelsy  to  refresh  my  mind  when 
weary  with  the  toils  of  study." 

"A  truce  with   thy  hermit   cravings,"  said   the   king,  hn- 


THE    CAPTIVE    BEAUTY  143 

patiently.  "  This  damsel  have  I  marked  for  my  own.  I  see 
much  comfort  in  her :  even  such  comfort  as  David,  the  father 
of  Solomon  the  Wise,  found  in  the  society  of  Abishag  the 
Shunamite." 

Further  solicitations  and  remonstrances  of  the  astrologer  only 
provoked  a  more  peremptory  reply  from  the  monarch,  and  they 
parted  in  high  displeasure.  The  sage  shut  himself  up  in  his 
hermitage  to  brood  over  his  disappointment ;  ere  he  departed, 
however,  he  gave  the  king  one  more  warning  to  beware  of  his 
dangerous  captive.  But  where  is  the  old  man  in  love  that  will 
listen  to  counsel  1  Aben  Habuz  resigned  himself  to  the  full 
sway  of  his  passion.  His  only  study  was  how  to  render  him 
self  amiable  in  the  eyes  of  the  Gothic  beauty.  He  had  not 
youth  to  recommend  him,  it  is  true,  but  then  he  had  riches ; 
and  when  a  lover  is  old,  he  is  generally  generous.  The  Zacatin 
of  Granada  was  ransacked  for  the  most  precious  merchandise  of 
the  East ;  silks,  jewels,  precious  gems,  exquisite  perfumes,  all 
that  Asia  and  Africa  yielded  of  rich  and  rare,  were  lavished 
upon  the  princess.  All  kinds  of  spectacles  and  festivities  were 
devised  for  her  entertainment ;  minstrelsy,  dancing,  tournaments, 
bull-fights ;  —  Granada  for  a  time  was  a  scene  of  perpetual  pa 
geant.  The  Gothic  princess  regarded  all  this  splendor  with  the 
air  of  one  accustomed  to  magnificence.  She  received  everything 
as  a  homage  due  to  her  rank,  or  rather  to  her  beauty ;  for 
beauty  is  more  lofty  in  its  exactions  even  than  rank.  Nay,  she 
seemed  to  take  a  secret  pleasure  in  exciting  the  monarch  to  ex 
penses  that  made  his  treasury  shrink,  and  then  treating  his 
extravagant  generosity  as  a  mere  matter  of  course.  With  all 
his  assiduity  and  munificence,  also,  the  venerable  lover  could 
not  flatter  himself  that  he  had  made  any  impression  on  her 
heart.  She  never  frowned  on  him,  it  is  true,  but  then  she 
never  smiled.  Whenever  he  began  to  plead  his  passion,  she 
struck  her  silver  lyre.  There  was  a  mystic  charm  in  the  sound. 
In  an  instant  the  monarch  began  to  nod ;  a  drowsiness  stole 


144  THE    ALHAMBRA 

over  him,  and  he  gradually  sank  into  a  sleep,  from  which  he 
awoke  wonderfully  refreshed,  but  perfectly  cooled  for  the  time 
of  his  passion.  This  was  very  baffling  to  his  suit ;  but  then 
these  slumbers  were  accompanied  by  agreeable  dreams,  which 
completely  enthralled  the  senses  of  the  drowsy  lover ;  so  he 
continued  to  dream  on,  while  all  Granada  scoffed  at  his  infatua 
tion,  and  groaned  at  the  treasures  lavished  for  a  song. 

At  length  a  danger  burst  on  the  head  of  Aben  Habuz, 
against  which  his  talisman  yielded  him  no  warning.  An  in 
surrection  broke  out  in  his  very  capital ;  his  palace  was  sur 
rounded  •  by  an  armed  rabble,  who  menaced  his  life  and  the  life 
of  his  Christian  paramour.  A  spark  of  his  ancient  warlike 
spirit  was  awakened  in  tHe  breast  of  the  monarch.  At  the  head 
of  a  handful  of  his  guards  he  sallied  forth,  put  the  rebels  to 
flight,  and  crushed  the  insurrection  in  the  bud. 

When  quiet  was  again  restored,  he  sought  the  astrologer, 
who  still  remained  shut  up  in  his  hermitage,  chewing  the  bitter 
cud  of  resentment. 

Aben  Habuz  approached  him  with  a  conciliatory  tone.  "0 
wise  son  of  Abu  Ayub,  "  said  he,  "  well  didst  thou  predict  dan 
gers  to  me  from  this  captive  beauty  :  tell  me  then,  thou  who  art 
so  quick  at  foreseeing  peril,  what  I  should  do  to  avert  it." 

"  Put  from  thee  the  infidel  damsel  who  is  the  cause." 

"  Sooner  would  I  part  with  my  kingdom, "  cried  Aben 
Habuz. 

"  Thou  art  in  danger  of  losing  both,"  replied  the  astrologer. 

"  Be  not  harsh  and  angry,  0  most  profound  of  philosophers ; 
consider  the  double  distress  of  a  monarch  and  a  lover,  and  de 
vise  some  means  of  protecting  me  from  the  evils  by  which  I  am 
menaced.  I  care  not  for  grandeur,  I  care  not  for  power,  I  lan 
guish  only  for  repose  ;  would  that  I  had  some  quiet  retreat 
where  I  might  take  refuge  from  the  world,  and  all  its  cares, 
and  pomps,  and  troubles,  and  devote  the  remainder  of  my  days 
to  tranquillity  and  love. 


THE    GAEDEN    OF   IREM  145 

The  astrologer  regarded  him  for  a  moment  from  under  his 
bushy  eyebrows. 

"  And  what  would st  thou  give,  if  I  could  provide  thee  such 
a  retreat  1 " 

"Thou  shouldst  name  thy  own  reward;  and  whatever  it 
might  be,  if  within  the  scope  of  my  power,  as  my  soul  liveth, 
it  should  be  thine." 

"  Thou  hast  heard,  0  king,  of  the  garden  of  Irem,  one  of  the 
prodigies  of  Arabia  the  happy." 

"  I  have  heard  of  that  garden ;  it  is  recorded  in  the  Koran, 
even  in  the  chapter  entitled  'The  Dawn  of  Day.'  I  have, 
moreover,  heard  marvellous  things  related  of  it  by  pilgrims 
who  had  been  to  Mecca ;  but  I  considered  them  wild  fables, 
such  as  travellers  are  wont  to  tell  who  have  visited  remote 
countries." 

"  Discredit  not,  0  king,  the  tales  of  travellers,"  rejoined  the 
astrologer,  gravely,  "for  they  contain  precious  rarities  of  knowl 
edge  brought  from  the  ends  of  the  earth.  As  to  the  palace  and 
garden  of  Irem,  what  is  generally  told  of  them  is  true ;  I  have 
seen  them  with  mine  own  eyes;  —  listen  to  my  adventure,  for 
it  has  a  bearing  upon  the  object  of  your  request. 

"  In  my  younger  days,  when  a  mere  Arab  of  the  desert,  I 
tended  my  father's  camels:  In  traversing  the  desert  of  Aden, 
one  of  them  strayed  from  the  rest,  and  was  lost.  I  searched 
after  it  for  several  days,  but  in  vain,  until,  wearied  and 
faint,  I  laid  myself  down  at  noontide,  and  slept  under  a 
palm-tree  by  the  side  of  a  scanty  well.  When  I  awoke  I  found 
myself  at  the  gate  of  a  city.  I  entered,  and  beheld  noble 
streets,  and  squares,  and  market-places  ;  but  all  were  silent 
and  without  an  inhabitant.  I  wandered  on  until  I  came  to  a 
sumptuous  palace,  with  a  garden  adorned  with  fountains  and 
fish-ponds,  and  groves  and  flowers,  and  orchards  laden  with 
delicious  fruit ;  but  still  no  one  was  to  be  seen.  Upon  which, 
appalled  at  this  loneliness,  I  hastened  to  depart ;  and,  after 


146  THE    ALHAMBRA 

issuing  forth  at  the  gate  of  the  city,  I  turned  to  look  upon  the 
place,  but  it  was  no  longer  to  be  seen  :  nothing  but  the  silent 
desert  extended  before  my  eyes. 

"  In  the  neighborhood  I  met  with  an  aged  deryige,  learned 
in  the  traditions  and  secrets  of  the  land,  and  related  to  him 
what  had  befallen  me.  'This,'  said  he,  'is  the  far-famed  garden 
of  Irem,  one  of  the  wonders  of  the  desert.  It  only  appears  at 
times  to  some  wanderer  like  thyself,  gladdening  him  with  the 
sight  of  towers  and  palaces  and  garden-walls  overhung  with 
richly  laden  fruit  trees,  and  then  vanishes,  leaving  nothing  but 
a  lonely  desert.  And  this  is  the  story  of  it.  In  old  times,  when 
this  country  was  inhabited  by  the  Addites,  King  Sheddad,  the 
son  of  Ad,  the  great  grandson  of  Noah,  founded  here  a  splendid 
city.  When  it  was  finished,  and  he  saw  its  grandeur,  his  heart 
was  puffed  up  with  pride  and  arrogance,  and  he  determined  to 
build  a  royal  palace,  with  gardens  which  should  rival  all  related 
in  the  Koran  of  the  celestial  paradise.  But  the  curse  of  heaven 
fell  upon  him  for  his  presumption.  He  and  his  subjects  were 
swept  from  the  earth,  and  his  splendid  city,  and  palace,  and 
gardens,  were  laid  under  a  perpetual  spell,  which  hides  them 
from  human  sight,  excepting  that  they  are  seen  at  intervals,  by 
way  of  keeping  his  sin  in  perpetual  remembrance.' 

"  This  story,  0  king,  and  the  wonders  I  had  seen,  ever  dwelt 
in  my  mind ;  and  in  after  years,  when  I  had  been  in  Egypt,  and 
was  possessed  of  the  book  of  knowledge  of  Solomon  the  Wise, 
I  determined  to  return  and  revisit  the  garden  of  Irem.  I  did 
so,  and  found  it  revealed  to  my  instructed  sight.  I  took  pos 
session  of  the  palace  of  Sheddad,  and  passed  several  days  in  his 
mock  paradise.  The  genii  who  watch  over  the  place  were  obe 
dient  to  my  magic  power,  and  revealed  to  me  the  spells  by 
which  the  whole  garden  had  been,  as  it  were,  conjured  into  ex 
istence,  and  by  which  it  was  rendered  invisible.  Such  a  palace 
and  garden,  0  king,  can  I  make  for  thee,  even  here,  on  the 
mountain  above  thy  city.  Do  I  not  know  all  the  secret  spells  ? 


THE    COMPACT  147 

and  am  I  not  in  possession  of  the  book  of  knowledge  of  Solomon 
the  Wise  ? " 

"0  wise  son  of  Abu  Ayub!"  exclaimed  Aben  Habuz, 
trembling  with  eagerness,  "thou  art  a  traveller  indeed,  and 
hast  seen  and  learned  marvellous  things  !  Contrive  me  such 
a  paradise,  and  ask  any  reward,  even  to  the  half  of  my 
kingdom." 

"Alas!"  replied  the  other,  "thou  knowest  I  am  an  old  man, 
and  a  philosopher,  and  easily  satisfied  ;  all  the  reward  I  ask  is 
the  first  beast  of  burden,  with  its  load,  which  shall  enter  the 
rnagic  portal  of  the  palace." 

The  monarch  gladly  agreed  to  so  moderate  a  stipulation,  and 
the  astrologer  began  his  work.  On  the  summit  of  the  hill,  im 
mediately  above  his  subterranean  hermitage,  he  caused  a  great 
gateway  or  barbican  to  be  erected,  opening  through  the  centre 
of  a  strong  tower. 

There  was  ah  outer  vestibule  or  porch,  with  a  lofty  arch,  and 
within  it  a  portal  secured  by  massive  gates.  On  the  keystone 
of  the  portal  the  astrologer,  with  his  own  hand,  wrought  the 
figure  of  a  huge  key ;  and  on  the  keystone  of  the  outer  arch  of 
the  vestibule,  which  was  loftier  than  that  of  the  portal,  he 
carved  a  gigantic  hand.  These  were  potent  talismans,  over 
which  he  repeated  many  sentences  in  an  unknown  tongue. 

When  this  gateway  was  finished,  he  shut  himself  up  for  two 
days  in  his  astrological  hall,  engaged  in  secret  incantations ;  on 
the  third  he  ascended  the  hill,  and  passed  the  whole  day  on  its 
summit.  At  a  late  hour  of  the  night  he  came  down,  and  pre 
sented  himself  before  Aben  Habuz.  "  At  length,  0  king,"  said 
he,  "my^labor  is  accomplished.  On  the  summit  of  the  hill 
stands  one  of  the  most  delectable  palaces  that  ever  the  head  of 
man  devised,  or  the  heart  of  man  desired.  It  contains  sumptu 
ous  halls  and  galleries,  delicious  gardens,  cool  fountains,  and 
fragrant  baths ;  in  a  word,  the  whole  mountain  is  converted 
into  a  paradise.  Like  the  garden  of  Irem,  it  is  protected  by  a  > 


148  THE    ALHAMBRA 

mighty  charm,  which  hides  it  from  the  view  and  search  of  mor 
tals,  excepting  such  as  possess  the  secret  of  its  talismans." 

"  Enough  !"  cried  Aben  Habuz,  joyfully,  "to-morrow  morn 
ing  with  the  first  light  we  will  ascend  and  take  possession." 
The  happy  monarch  slept  but  little  that  night.  Scarcely  had 
the  rays  of  the  sun  began-  to  play  about  the  snowy  summits  of 
the  Sierra  Nevada,  when  he  mounted  his  steed,  and,  accom 
panied  only  by  a  few  chosen  attendants,  ascended  a  steep  and 
narrow  road  leading  up  the  hill.  Beside  him,  on  a  white 
palfrey,  rode  the  Gothic  princess,  her  whole  dress  sparkling 
with  jewels,  while  round  her  neck  was  suspended  her  silver 
lyre.  The  astrologer  walked  on  the  other  side  of  the  king, 
assisting  his  steps  with  his  hieroglyphic  staff,  for  he  never 
mounted  steed  of  any  kind. 

Aben  Habuz  looked  to  see  the  towers  of  the  palace  bright 
ening  above  him,  and  the  embowered  terraces  of  its  gardens 
stretching  along  the  heights ;  but  as  yet  nothing  of  the  kind 
was  to  be  descried.  "  That  is  the  mystery  and  safeguard  of 
the  place,"  said  the  astrologer,  "  nothing  can  be  discerned  until 
you  have  passed  the  spell-bound  gateway,  and  been  put  in  pos 
session  of  the  place." 

As  they  approached  the  gateway,  the  astrologer  paused,  and 
pointed  out  to  the  king  the  mystic  hand  and  key  carved  upon 
the  portal  of  the  arch.  "  These,"  said  he,  "are  the  talismans 
which  guard  the  entrance  to  this  paradise.  Until  yonder  hand 
shall  reach  down  and  seize  that  key,  neither  mortal  power  nor 
magic  artifice  can  prevail  against  the  lord  of  this  mountain." 

While  Aben  Habuz  was  gazing,  with  open  mouth  and  silent 
wonder,  at  these  mystic  talismans,  the  palfrey  of  the  princess 
proceeded,  and  bore  her  in  at  the  portal,  to  the  very  centre  of 
the  barbican. 

" Behold,"  cried  the  astrologer,  "my  promised  reward;  the 
first  animal  with  its  burden  which  should  enter  the  magic 
gateway." 


THE    SUBTERRANEAN   HALL  149 

Aben  Habuz  smiled  at  what  he  considered  a  pleasantry  of 
the  ancient  man  ;  but  when  he  found  him  to  be  in  earnest,  his 
gray  beard  trembled  with  indignation. 

"  Son  of  Abu  Ayub,"  said  he,  sternly,  "  what  equivocation 
is  this  ?  Thou  knowest  the  meaning  of  my  promise  :  the  first 
beast  of  burden,  with  its  load,  that  should  enter  this  portal. 
Take  the  strongest  mule  in  my  stables,  load  it  with  the 
most  precious  things  of  my  treasury,  and  it  is  thine ;  but 
dare  not  raise  thy  thoughts  to  her  who  is  the  delight  of 
my  heart." 

"What  need  I  of  wealth  1"  cried  the  astrologer,  scornfully; 
"  have  I  not  the  book  of  knowledge  of  Solomon  the  Wise,  and 
through  it  the  command  of  the  secret  treasures  of  the  earth? 
The  princess  is  mine  by  right ;  thy  royal  word  is  pledged ;  I 
claim  her  as  my  own." 

The  princess  looked  down  haughtily  from  her  palfrey,  and  a 
light  smile  of  scorn  curled  her  rosy  lip  at  this  dispute  between 
two  gray-beards  for  the  possession  of  youth  and  beauty.  The 
wrath  of  the  monarch  got  the  better  of  his  discretion.  "Base 
son  of  the  desert,"  cried  he,  "thou  mayst  be  master  of  many 
arts,  but  know  me  for  thy  master,  and  presume  not  to  juggle 
with  thy  king." 

"  My  master  !  my  king  !  "  echoed  the  astrologer,  —  "  the 
monarch  of  a  mole-hill  to  claim  sway  over  him  who  possesses 
the  talismans  of  Solomon !  Farewell,  Aben  Habuz;  reign 
over  thy  petty  kingdom,  and  revel  in  thy  paradise  of  fools ;  for 
me,  I  will  laugh  at  thee  in  my  philosophic  retirement." 

So  saying,  he  seized  the  bridle  of  the  palfrey,  smote  the 
earth  with  his  staff,  and  sank  with  the  Gothic  princess  through 
the  centre  of  the  barbican.  The  earth  closed  over  them,  and 
no  trace  remained  of  the  opening  by  which  they  had  descended. 

Aben  Habuz  was  struck  dumb  for  a  time  with  astonishment. 
Recovering  himself,  he  ordered  a  thousand  workmen  to  dig, 
with  pickaxe  and  spade,  into  the  ground  where  the  astrologer 


150  THE    ALHAMBRA 

had  disappeared.  They  digged  and  digged,  but  in  vain ;  the 
flinty  bosom  of  the  hill  resisted  their  implements ;  or  if  they 
did  penetrate  a  little  way,  the  earth  rilled  in  again  as  fast  as 
they  threw  it  out.  Aben  Habuz  sought  the  mouth  of  the 
cavern  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  leading  to  the  subterranean  pal 
ace  of  the  astrologer  ;  but  it  was  nowhere  to  be  found.  Where 
once  had  been  an  entrance,  was  now  a  solid  surface  of  primeval 
rock.  With  the  disappearance  of  Ibrahim  Ebn  Abu  Ayub 
ceased  the  benefit  of  his  talismans.  The  bronze  horseman  re 
mained  fixed,  with  his  face  turned  towards  the  hill,  and  his 
spear  pointed  to  the  spot  where  the  astrologer  had  descended, 
as  if  there  still  lurked  the  deadliest  foe  of  Aben  Habuz. 

From  time  to  time  the  sound  of  music,  and  the  tones  of  a 
female  voice,  could  be  faintly  heard  from  the  bosom  of  the  hill ; 
and  a  peasant  one  day  brought  word  to  the  king,  that  in  the 
preceding  night  he  had  found  a  fissure  in  the  rock,  by  which  he 
had  crept  in,  until  he  looked  down  into  a  subterranean  hall,  in 
which  sat  the  astrologer,  on  a  magnificent  divan,  slumbering 
and  nodding  to  the  silver  lyre  of  the  princess,  which  seemed  to 
hold  a  magic  sway  over  his  senses. 

Aben  Habuz  sought  the  fissure  in  the  rock,  but  it  was  again 
closed.  He  renewed  the  attempt  to  unearth  his  rival,  but  all 
in  vain.  The  spell  of  the  hand  and  key  was  too  potent  to  be 
counteracted  by  human  power.  As  to  the  summit  of  the 
mountain,  the  site  of  the  promised  palace  and  garden,  it  re 
mained  a  naked  waste ;  either  the  boasted  elysium  was  hidden 
from  sight  by  enchantment,  or  was  a  mere  fable  of  the  astrolo 
ger.  The  world  charitably  supposed  the  latter,  and  some  used 
to  call  the  place  "  The  King's  Folly " ;  while  others  named  it 
"  The  Fool's  Paradise." 

To  add  to  the  chagrin  of  Aben  Habuz,  the  neighbors  whom 
he  had  defied  and  taunted,  and  cut  up  at  his  leisure  while 
master  of  the  talismanic  horseman,  finding  him  no  longer  pro 
tected  by  magic  spell,  made  inroads  into  his  territories  from  all 


MAGIC    SLUMBERS  151 

sides,  and  the  remainder  of  the  life  of  the  most  pacific  of 
monarchs  was  a  tissue  of  turmoils. 

At  length  Aben  Habuz  died,  and  was  buried.  Ages  have  since 
rolled  away.  The  Alhambra  has  been  built  on  the  eventful  moun 
tain,  and  in  some  measure  realizes  the  fabled  delights  of  the  garden 
of  Irem.  The  spell-bound  gateway  still  exists  entire,  protected 
no  doubt  by  the  mystic  hand  and  key,  and  now  forms  the  Gate 
of  Justice,  the  grand  entrance  to  the  fortress.  Under  that  gate 
way,  it  is  said,  the  old  astrologer  remains  in  his  subterranean  hall, 
nodding  on  his  divan,  lulled  by  the  silver  lyre  of  the  princess. 

The  old  invalid  sentinels  who  mount  guard  at  the  gate  hear 
the  strains  occasionally  in  the  summer  nights ;  and,  yielding  to 
their  soporific  power,  doze  quietly  at  their  posts.  Nay,  so  drowsy 
an  influence  pervades  the  place,  that  even  those  who  watch  by 
day  may  generally  be  seen  nodding  on  the  stone  benches  of  the 
barbican,  or  sleeping  under  the  neighboring  trees ;  so  that  in  fact 
it  is  the  drowsiest  military  post  in  all  Christendom.  All  this, 
say  the  ancient  legends,  will  endure  from  age  to  age.  The  prin 
cess  will  remain  captive  to  the  astrologer ;  and  the  astrologer, 
bound  up  in  magic  slumber  by  the  princess,  until  the  last  day, 
unless  the  mystic  hand  shall  grasp  the  fated  key,  and  dispel  the 
whole  charm  of  this  enchanted  mountain. 

NOTE  TO  THE  ARABIAN  ASTROLOGER 

Al  Makkari,  in  his  history  of  the  Mohammedan  Dynasties  in 
Spain,  cites  from  another  Arabian  writer  an  account  of  a  talis- 
manic  effigy  somewhat  similar  to  the  one  in  the  foregoing  legend. 

In  Cadiz,  says  he,  there  formerly  stood  a  square  tower  upwards 
of  one  hundred  cubits  high,  built  of  huge  blocks  of  stone,  fastened 
together  with  clamps  of  brass.  On  the  top  was  the  figure  of  a  man, 
holding  a  staff  in  his  right  hand,  his  face  turned  to  the  Atlantic, 
and  pointing  with  the  forefinger  of  his  left  hand  to  the  Straits  of 
Gibraltar.  It  was  said  to  have  been  set  up  in  ancient  times  by  the 
Gothic  kings  of  Andalus,  as  a  beacon  or  guide  to  navigators.  The 
Moslems  of  Barbary  and  Andalus  considered  it  a  talisman  which 


152  THE    ALHAMRRA 

exercised  a  spell  over  the  seas.  Under  its  guidance,  swarms  of 
piratical  people  of  a  nation  called  Majus,  appeared  on  the  coast  in 
large  vessels  with  a  square  sail  in  the  bow,  and  another  in  the  stern. 
They  came  every  six  or  seven  years  ;  captured  everything  they  met 
with  on  the  sea  ;  —  guided  by  the  statue,  they  passed  through  the 
Straits  into  the  Mediterranean,  landed  on  the  coasts  of  Andalus, 
laid  everything  waste  with  fire  and  sword  ;  and  sometimes  carried 
their  depredations  on  the  opposite  coasts  even  as  far  as  Syria. 

At  length  it  came  to  pass  in  the  time  of  the  civil  wars,  a  Moslem 
Admiral  who  had  taken  possession  of  Cadiz,  hearing  that  the  statue 
on  top  of  the  tower  was  of  pure  gold,  had  it  lowered  to  the  ground 
and  broken  to  pieces  :  when  it  proved  to  be  of  gilded  brass.  With 
the  destruction  of  the  idol,  the  spell  over  the  sea  was  at  an  end. 
From  that  time  forward  nothing  more  was  seen  of  the  piratical 
people  of  the  ocean,  excepting  that  two  of  their  barks  were  wrecked 
on  the  coast,  one  at  Marsu-1-Majus  (the  port  of  Majus),  the  other 
close  to  the  promontory  of  Al-Aghan. 

The  maritime  invaders  above  mentioned  by  Al  Makkari  must  have 
been  the  Northmen. 


VISITORS  TO  THE  ALHAMBRA 

FOR  nearly  three  months  had  I  enjoyed  undisturbed  my  dreams 
of  sovereignty  h%  the  Alhambra,  —  a  longer  term  of  quiet  than 
had  been  the  lot  of  many  of  my  predecessors.  During  this  lapse 
of  time  the  progress  of  the  season  had  wrought  the  usual  change. 
On  my  arrival  I  had  found  everything  in  the  freshness  of  May ; 
the  foliage  of  the  trees  was  still  tender  and  transparent ;  the  pome 
granate  had  not  yet  shed  its  brilliant  crimson  blossoms ;  the  or 
chards  of  the  Xenil  and  the  Darro  were  in  full  bloom ;  the  rocks 
were  hung  with  wild  flowers,  and  Granada  seemed  completely 
surrounded  by  a  wilderness  of  roses ;  among  which  innumerable 
nightingales  sang,  not  merely  in  the  night,  but  all  day  long. 

Now  the  advance  of  summer  had  withered  the  rose  and  si 
lenced  the  nightingale,  and  the  distant  country  began  to  look 
parched  and  sunburnt ;  though  a  perennial  verdure  reigned  im- 


VISITORS    TO    THE    ALHA^IBRA  153 

mediately  round  the  city  and  in  the  deep  narrow  valleys  at  the 
foot  of  the  snow-capped  mountains. 

The  Alhambra  possesses  retreats  graduated  to  the  heat  of  the 
weather,  among  which  the  most  peculiar  is  the  almost  subterra 
nean  apartment  of  the  baths.  This  still  retains  its  ancient  Ori 
ental  character,  though  stamped  with  the  touching  traces  of 
decline.  At  the  entrance,  opening  into  a  small  court  formerly 
adorned  with  flowers,  is  a  hall,  moderate  in  size,  but  light  arid 
-graceful  in  architecture.  It  is  overlooked  by  a  small  gallery  sup 
ported  by  marble  pillars  and  moresco  arches.  An  alabaster  foun 
tain  in  the  centre  of  the  pavement  still  throws  up  a  jet  of  water 
to  cool  the  place.  On  each  side  are  deep  alcoves  with  raised  plat 
forms,  where  the  bathers,  after  their  ablutions,  reclined  on  cush 
ions,  soothed  to  voluptuous  repose  by  the  fragrance  of  the  perfumed 
air  and  the  notes  of  soft  music  from  the  gallery.  Beyond  this 
hall  are  the  interior  chambers,  still  more  retired ;  the  sanctum 
sanctorum  of  female  privacy ;  for  here  the  beauties  of  the  Harem 
indulged  in  the  luxury  of  the  baths.  A  soft  mysterious  light 
reigns  through  the  place,  admitted  through  small  apertures 
(lumbreras)  in  the  vaulted  ceiling.  The  traces  of  ancient  ele 
gance  are  still  to  be  seen ;  and  the  alabaster  baths  in  which  the 
sultanas  once  reclined.  The  prevailing  obscurity  and  silence  have 
made  these  vaults  a  favorite  resort  of  bats,  who  nestle  during  the 
day  in  the  dark  nooks  and  corners,  and  on  being  disturbed,  flit 
mysteriously  about  the  twilight  chambers,  heightening,  in  an 
indescribable  degree,  their  air  of  desertion  and  decay. 

In  this  cool  and  elegant,  though  dilapidated  retreat,  which  had 
the  freshness  and  seclusion  of  a  grotto,  I  passed  the  sultry  hours 
of  the  day  as  summer  advanced,  emerging  toward  sunset ;  and 
bathing,  or  rather  swimming,  at  night  in  the  great  reservoir  of 
the  main  court.  In  this  way  I  was  enabled  in  a  measure  to 
counteract  the  relaxing  and  enervating  influence  of  the  climate. 

My  dream  of  absolute  sovereignty,  however,  came  at  length 
to  an  end.  I  was  roused  one  morning  by  the  report  of  fire- 


154  THE    ALHAMBRA 

arms,  which  reverberated  among  the  towers  as  if  the  castle  had 
been  taken  by  surprise.  On  sallying  forth,  I  found  an  old  cava 
lier  with  a  number  of  domestics  in  possession  of  the  Hall  of 
Ambassadors.  He  was  an  ancient  count  who  had  come  up 
from  his  palace  in  Granada  to  pass  a  short  time  in  the  Alham- 
bra  for  the  benefit  of  purer  air ;  and  who,  being  a  veteran  and 
inveterate  sportsman,  was  endeavoring  to  get  an  appetite  for 
his  breakfast  by  shooting  at  swallows  from  the  balconies.  It 
was  a  harmless  amusement ;  for  though,  by  the  alertness  of  his 
attendants  in  loading  his  pieces,  he  was  enabled  to  keep  up  a 
brisk  fire,  I  could  not  accuse  him  of  the  death  of  a  single  swal 
low.  Nay,  the  birds  themselves  seemed  to  enjoy  the  sport,  and 
to  deride  his  want  of  skill,  skimming  in  circles  close  to  the  bal 
conies,  and  twittering  as  they  darted  by. 

The  arrival  of  this  old  gentleman  changed  essentially  the 
aspect  of  affairs,  but  caused  no  jealousy  nor  collision.  We 
tacitly  shared  the  empire  between  us,  like  the  last  kings  of 
Granada,  excepting  that  we  maintained  a  most  amicable  alliance. 
He  reigned  absolute  over  the  court  of  the  Lions  and  its  adjacent 
halls,  while  I  maintained  peaceful  possession  of  the  regions  of  the 
baths  and  the  little  garden  of  Lindaraxa.  We  took  our  meals  to 
gether  under  the  arcades  of  the  court,  where  the  fountains  cooled 
the  air,  and  bubbling  rills  ran  along  the  channels  of  the  marble 
pavement. 

In  the  evenings  a  domestic  circle  would  gather  about  the 
worthy  old  cavalier.  The  countess,  his  wife  by  a  second  mar 
riage,  would  come  up  from  the  city  accompanied  by  her  step 
daughter  Carmen,  an  only  child,  a  charming  little  being,  still 
in  her  girlish  years.  Then  there  were  always  some  of  his 
official  dependants,  his  chaplain,  his  lawyer,  his  secretary,  his 
steward,  and  other  officers  and  agents  of  his  extensive  posses 
sions,  who  brought  him  up  the  news  or  gossip  of  the  city,  and 
formed  his  evening  party  of  tresillo  or  ombre.  Thus  he  held  a 
kind  of  domestic  court,  where  each  one  paid  him  deference,  and 


LA    NINA  155 

sought  to  contribute  to  his  amusement,  without,  howa^er,  any 
appearance  of  servility,  or  any  sacrifice  of  self-respect.  In  fact, 
nothing  of  the  kind  was  exacted  by  the  demeanor  of  the  Count ; 
for  whatever  may  be  said  of  Spanish  pride,  it  rarely  chills  or 
constrains  the  intercourse  of  social  or  domestic  life.  Among  no 
people  are  the  relations  between  kindred  more  unreserved  and 
cordial,  or  between  superior  and  dependant  more  free  from 
haughtiness  on  the  one  side,  and  obsequiousness  on  the  other. 
In  these  respects  there  still  remains  in  Spanish  life,  especially 
in  the  provinces,  much  of  the  vaunted  simplicity  of  the  olden 
time. 

The  most  interesting  member  of  this  family  group,  in  my 
eyes,  was  the  daughter  of  the  count,  the  lovely  little  Carmen. 

She  was  but  about  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  appeared  to  be  con 
sidered  a  mere  child,  though  the  idol  of  the  family,  going  gener 
ally  by  the  childlike  but  endearing  appellation  of  la  Nina.  Her 
form  had  not  yet  attained  full  maturity  and  development,  but 
possessed  already  the  exquisite  symmetry  and  pliant  grace  so 
prevalent  in  this  country.  Her  blue  eyes,  fair  complexion,  and 
light  hair,  were  unusual  in  Andalusia,  and  gave  a  mildness  and 
gentleness  to  her  demeanor  in  contrast  to  the  usual  fire  of  Span 
ish  beauty,  but  in  unison  with  the  guileless  and  confiding  inno 
cence  of  her  manners.  She  had  at  the  same  time  the  innate 
aptness  and  versatility  of  her  fascinating  countrywomen.  What 
ever  she  undertook  to  do  she  did  well  and  apparently  without 
effort.  She  sang,  played  the  guitar  and  other  instruments,  and 
danced  the  picturesque  dances  of  her  country  to  admiration,  but 
never  seemed  to  seek  admiration.  Everything  was  spontaneous, 
prompted  by  her  own  gay  spirits  and  happy  temper. 

The  presence  of  this  fascinating  little  being  spread  a  new 
charm  about  the  Alhambra,  and  seemed  to  be  in  unison  with 
the  place.  While  the  count  and  countess,  with  the  chaplain  or 
secretary,  were  playing  their  game  of  tresillo  under  the  vestibule 
of  the  court  of  Lions,  she,  attended  by  Dolores,  who  acted  as 


156  THE    ALHAMBRA 

her  majjl  of  honor,  would  sit  by  one  of  the  fountains,  and  accom 
panying  herself  on  the  guitar,  would  sing  some  of  those  popular 
romances  which  abound  in  Spain,  or,  what  was  still  more  to  my 
taste,  some  traditional  ballad  about  the  Moors. 

Never  shall  I  think  of  the  Alhambra  without  remembering 
this  lovely  little  being,  sporting  in  happy  and  innocent  girlhood 
in  its  marble  halls,  dancing  to  the  sound  of  the  Moorish  casta 
nets,  or  mingling  the  silver  warbling  of  her  voice  with  the 
music  of  its  fountains. 


RELICS   AND   GENEALOGIES 

IF  I  had  been  pleased  and  interested  by  the  count  and  his 
family,  as  furnishing  a  picture  of  Spanish  domestic  life,  I  was 
still  more  so  when  apprised  of  historical  circumstances  which 
linked  them  with  the  heroic  times  of  Granada.  In  fact,  in  this 
worthy  old  cavalier,  so  totally  unwarlike,  or  whose  deeds  in 
arms  extended,  at  most,  to  a  war  on  swallows  and  martlets,  I 
discovered  a  lineal  descendant  and  actual  representative  of  Gon- 
salvo  of  Cordova,  "  The  Grand  Captain,  "  who  won  some  of  his 
brightest  laurels  before  the  walls  of  Granada,  and  was  one  of  the 
cavaliers  commissioned  by  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  to  negotiate 
the  terms  of  surrender ;  nay,  more,  the  count  was  entitled,  did 
he  choose  it,  to  claim  remote  affinity  with  some  of  the  ancient 
Moorish  princes,  through  a  scion  of  his  house,  Don  Pedro  Vene- 
gas,  surnamed  the  Tornadizo;  and  by  the  same  token  his 
daughter,  the  fascinating  little  Carmen,  might  claim  to  be  right 
ful  representative  of  the  Princess  Cetimerien  or  the  beautiful 
Lindaraxa.1 

Understanding  from  the  count  that  he  had  some  curious  relics 
of  the  Conquest,  preserved  in  his  family  archives,  I  accompanied 
him  early  one  morning  down  to  his  palace  in  Granada  to  ex 
amine  them.  The  most  important  of  these  relics  was  the  sword 


COSTUMES    OF    THE    MOORS    OF   ANDALUS        157 

of  the  Grand  Captain ;  a  weapon  destitute  of  all  ostentatious 
ornament,  as  the  weapons  of  great  generals  are  apt  to  be,  with 
a  plain  hilt  of  ivory  and  a  broad  thin  blade.  It  might  furnish 
a  comment  on  hereditary  honors,  to  see  the  sword  of  the  grand 
captain  legitimately  declined  into  such  feeble  hands. 

The  other  relics  of  the  Conquest  were  a  number  of  espin- 
gardas  or  muskets  of  unwieldy  size  and  ponderous  weight, 
worthy  to  rank  with  those  enormous  two-edged  swords  pre 
served  in  old  armories,  which  look  like  relics  from  the  days  of 
the  giants. 

Besides  other  hereditary  honors,  I  found  the  old  count  was 
Alferez  mayor,  or  grand  standard-bearer,  in  which  capacity  he 
was  entitled  to  bear  the  ancient  standard  of  Ferdinand  and  Isa 
bella,  on  certain  high  and  solemn  occasions,  and  to  wave  it  over 
their  tombs.  I  was  shown  also  the  caparisons  of  velvet,  sumpt 
uously  embroidered  with  gold  and  silver,  for  six  horses,  with 
which  he  appeared  in  state  when  a  new  sovereign  was  to  be 
proclaimed  in  Granada  and  Seville  ;  the  count  mounting  one  of 
the  horses,  and  the  other  five  being  led  by  lackeys  in  rich  liveries. 

I  had  hoped  to  find  among  the  relics  and  antiquities  of  the 
count's  palace  some  specimens  of  the  armor  and  weapons  of 
the  Moors  of  Granada,  such  as  I  had  heard  were  preserved  as 
trophies  by  the  descendants  of  the  Conquerors ;  but  in  this  I 
was  disappointed.  I  was  the  more  curious  in  this  particular, 
because  an  erroneous  idea  has  been  entertained  by  many,  as  to 
the  costumes  of  the  Moors  of  Spain ;  supposing  them  to  be  of 
the  usual  Oriental  type.  On  the  contrary,  we  have  it  on  the 
authority  of  their  own  writers,  that  they  adopted  in  many 
respects  the  fashions  of  the  Christians.  The  turban,  especially, 
so  identified  in  idea  with  the  Moslem,  was  generally  abandoned, 
except  in  the  western  provinces,  where  it  continued  in  use 
among  people  of  rank  and  wealth,  and  those  holding  places 
under  government.  A  woollen  cap,  red  or  green,  was  commonly 
worn  as  a  substitute  ;  probably  the  same  kind  originating  in 


158  THE    ALHAMBRA 

Barbary,  and  known  by  the  name  of  Tunis  or  Fez,  which  at 
the  present  day  is  worn  throughout  the  East,  though  generally 
under  the  turban.  The  Jews  were  obliged  to  wear  them  of  a 
yellow  color. 

In  Murcia,  Valencia,  and  other  eastern  provinces,  men  of 
the  highest  rank  might  be  seen  in  public  bareheaded.  The 
warrior  king,  Aben  Hud,  never  wore  a  turban,  neither  did  his 
rival  and  competitor  Al  Hamar,  the  founder  of  the  Alhambra. 
A  short  cloak  called  Taylasan,  similar  to  that  seen  in  Spain  in 
the  sixteenth  and  seventeenth  centuries,  was  worn  by  all  ranks. 
It  had  a  hood  or  cape  which  people  of  conditions  sometimes 
drew  over  the  head ;  but  the  lower  class  never. 

A  Moslem  cavalier  in  the  thirteenth  century,  as  described  by 
Ibnu  Said,  was  equipped  for  war  very  much  in  the  Christian 
style.  Over  a  complete  suit  of  mail  he  wore  a  short  scarlet 
tunic.  His  helmet  was  of  polished  steel ;  a  shield  was  slung 
at  his  back ;  he  wielded  a  huge  spear  with  a  broad  point, 
sometimes  a  double  point.  His  saddle  was  cumbrous,  project 
ing  very  much  in  front  and  in  rear,  and  he  rode  with  a  banner 
fluttering  behind  him. 

In  the  time  of  Al  Khattib  of  Granada,  who  wrote  in  the 
fourteenth  century,  the  Moslems  of  Andalus  had  resumed  the 
Oriental  costumes,  and  were  again  clad  and  armed  in  Arabic 
fashion  :  with  light  helmet,  thin  but  well-tempered  cuirass, 
long  slender  lance,  commonly  of  reed,  Arabian  saddle  and 
leather  buckler,  made  of  double  folds  of  the  skin  of  the  ante 
lope.  A  wonderful  luxury  prevailed  at  that  time  in  the  arms 
and  equipments  of  the  Granadian  cavaliers.  Their  armor  was 
inlaid  with  gold  and  silver.  Their  cimeters  were  of  the  keenest 
Damascus  blades,  with  sheaths  richly  wrought  and  enamelled, 
and  belts  of  golden  filigree  studded  with  gems.  Their  daggers 
of  Fez  had  jewelled  hilts,  and  their  lances  were  set  off  with 
gay  banderoles.  Their  horses  were  caparisoned  in  correspond 
ent  style,  with  velvet  and  embroidery. 


THE    GENERALIFE  159 

-  All  this  minute  description,  given  by  a  contemporary,  and 
an  author  of  distinction,  verifies  those  gallant  pictures  in  the 
old  Morisco  Spanish  ballads  which  have  sometimes  been  deemed 
apocryphal,  and  give  a  vivid  idea  of  the  brilliant  appearance 
of  the  chivalry  of  Granada,  when  marshalled  forth  in  warlike 
array,  or  when  celebrating  the  chivalrous  fetes  of  the  Vivar- 
rambla. 

1  Lest  this  should  be  deemed  a  mere  stretch  of  fancy,  the 
reader  is  referred  to  the  following  genealogy,  derived  by  the  his 
torian  Alcantara,  from  an  Arabian  manuscript,  on  parchment  in 
the  archives  of  the  Marquis  of  Corvera.  It  is  a  specimen  of  the 
curious  affinities  between  Christians  and  Moslems,  produced  by 
capture  and  intermarriages,  during  the  Moorish  wars.  From  Aben 
Hud,  the  Moorish  king,  the  conqueror  of  the  Almohades,  was 
descended  in  right  line  Cid  Yahia  Abraham  Alnagar,  prince  of 
Almeria,  who  married  a  daughter  of  King  Bermejo.  They  had 
three  children,  commonly  called  the  Cetiinerian  Princes  :  1st.  Jusef 
ben  Alhamar,  who  for  a  time  usurped  the  throne  of  Granada ; 
2d.  the  Prince  Nasar,  who  married  the  celebrated  Lindaraxa ; 
3d.  the  Princess  Cetimerien,  who  married  Don  Pedro  Venegas. 
captured  by  the  Moors  in  his  boyhood,  a  younger  son  of  the 
House  of  Luque,  of  which  house  the  old  count  was  the  present 
head. 

THE  GENERALIFE 

HIGH  above  the  Alhambra,  on  the  breast  of  the  mountain, 
amidst  embowered  gardens  and  stately  terraces,  rise  the  lofty 
towers  and  white  walls  of  the  Generalife ;  a  fairy  palace,  full 
of  storied  recollections.  Here  are  still  to  be  seen  the  famous 
cypresses  of  enormous  size  which  flourished  in  the  time  of  the 
Moors,  and  which  tradition  has  connected  with  the  fabulous 
story  of  Boabdil  and  his  sultana. 

Here  are  preserved  the  portraits  of  many  who  figured  in 
the  romantic  drama  of  the  Conquest.  Ferdinand  and  Isabella, 
Ponce  de  Leon,  the  gallant  Marquis  of  Cadiz,  and  Garcilaso  de 


160  THE    ALHAMBRA 

la  Vega,  who  slew  in  desperate  fight  Tarfe  the  Moor,  a  cham 
pion  of  Herculean  strength.  Here  too  hangs  a  portrait  which 
has  long  passed  for  that  of  the  unfortunate  Boabdil,  but  which 
is  said  to  be  that  of  Aben  Hud,  the  Moorish  king  from  whom 
descended  the  princes  of  Almeria.  From  one  of  these  princes, 
who  joined  the  standard  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  toward  the 
close  of  the  Conquest,  and  was  christianized  by  the  name  of 
Don  Pedro  de  Granada  Venegas,  was  descended  the  present 
proprietor  of  the  palace,  the  Marquis  of  Campotejar.  The 
proprietor,  however,  dwells  in  a  foreign  land,  and  the  palace 
has  no  longer  a  princely  inhabitant. 

Yet  here  is  everything  to  delight  a  southern  voluptuary  : 
fruits,  flowers,  fragrance,  green  arbors  and  myrtle  hedges,  deli 
cate  air  and  gushing  waters.  Here  I  had  an  opportunity  of  wit 
nessing  those  scenes  which  painters  are  fond  of  depicting  about 
southern  palaces  arid  gardens.  It  was  the  saint's  day  of  the 
count's  daughter,  and  she  had  brought  up  several  of  her  youth 
ful  companions  from  Granada,  to  sport  away  a  long  summer's 
day  among  the  breezy  halls  and  bowers  of  the  Moorish  palaces. 
A  visit  to  the  Generalife  was  the  morning's  entertainment.  Here 
some  of  the  gay  company  dispersed  itself  in  groups  about  the 
green  walks,  the  bright  fountains,  the  flights  of  Italian  steps, 
the  noble  terraces  and  marble  balustrades.  Others,  among  whom 
I  was  one,  took  their  seats  in  an  open  gallery  or  colonnade  com 
manding  a  vast  prospect ;  with  the  Alhambra,  the  city,  and  the 
Vega,  far  below,  and  the  distant  horizon  of  mountains  —  a 
dreamy  world,  all  glimmering  to  the  eye  in  summer  sunshine. 
While  thus  seated,  the  all-pervading  tinkling  of  the  guitar  and 
click  of  the  castanets  came  stealing  up  from  the  valley  of  the 
Darro,  and  half-way  down  the  mountain  we  descried  a  festive 
party  under  the  trees,  enjoying  themselves  in  true  Andalusian 
style ;  some  lying  on  the  grass,  others  dancing  to  the  music. 

All  these  sights  and  sounds,  together  with  the  princely  se 
clusion  of  the  place,  the  sweet  quiet  which  prevailed  around, 


LEGEND    OF  PRINCE   AHMED    AL    KAMEL        161 

and  the  delicious  serenity  of  the  weather,  had  a  witching  effect 
upon  the  mind,  and  drew  from  some  of  the  company,  versed  in 
local  story,  several  of  the  popular  fancies  and  traditions  con 
nected  with  this  old  Moorish  palace ;  they  were  "  such  stuff  as 
dreams  are  made  of,"  but  out  of  them  I  have  shaped  the  follow 
ing  legend,  which  I  hope  may  have  the  good  fortune  to  prove 
acceptable  to  the  reader. 


LEGEND   OF   PRINCE  AHMED  AL  KAMEL 

OB 

THE   PILGRIM    OF   LOVE 

THERE  was  once  a  Moorish  king  of  Granada,  who  had  but 
one  son,  whom  he  named  Ahmed,  to  which  his  courtiers  added 
the  surname  of  al  Kamel,  or  the  Perfect,  from  the  indubitable 
signs  of  superexcellence  which  they  perceived  in  him  in  his  very 
infancy.  The  astrologers  countenanced  them  in  their  foresight, 
predicting  everything  in  his  favor  that  could  make  a  perfect 
prince  and  a  prosperous  sovereign.  One  cloud  only  rested  upon 
his  destiny,  and  even  that  was  of  a  roseate  hue :  he  would  be 
of  an  amorous  temperament,  and  run  great  perils  from  the  ten 
der  passion.  If,  however,  he  could  be  kept  from  the  allure 
ments  of  love  until  of  mature  age,  these  dangers  would  be 
averted,  and  his  life  thereafter  be  one  uninterrupted  course  of 
felicity. 

To  prevent  all  danger  of  the  kind,  the  king  wisely  determined 
to  rear  the  prince  in  a  seclusion  where  he  should  never  see  a 
female  face,  nor  hear  even  the  name  of  love.  For  this  purpose 
he  built  a  beautiful  palace  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  above  the 
Alhambra,  in  the  midst  of  delightful  gardens,  but  surrounded 
by  lofty  walls,  being,  in  fact,  the  same  palace  known  at  the 
present  day  by  the  name  of  the  Generalife.  In  this  palace  the 


162  THE    ALHAMBRA 

youthful  prince  was  shut  up,  and  intrusted  to  the  guardianship 
and  instruction  of  Eben  Bonabben,  one  of  the  wisest  and  dryest 
of  Arabian  sages,  who  had  passed  the  greatest  part  of  his  life 
in  Egypt,  studying  hieroglyphics,  and  making  researches  among 
the  tombs  and  pyramids,  and  who  saw  more  charms  in  an  Egyp 
tian  mummy  than  in  the  most  tempting  of  living  beauties.  The 
sage  was  ordered  to  instruct  the  prince  in  all  kinds  of  knowledge 
but  one,  — he  was  to  be  kept  utterly  ignorant  of  love.  "Use 
every  precaution  for  the  purpose  you  may  think  proper,"  said 
the  king,  "  but  remember,  0  Eben  Bonabben,  if  my  son  learns 
aught  of  that  forbidden  knowledge  while  under  your  care,  your 
head  shall  answer  for  it."  A  withered  smile  came  over  the  dry 
visage  of  the  wise  Bonabben  at  the  menace.  "Let  your  maj 
esty's  heart  be  as  easy  about  your  son  as  mine  is  about  my 
head  :  am  I  a  man  likely  to  give  lessons  in  the  idle  passion  1 " 

Under  the  vigilant  care  of  the  philosopher,  the  prince  grew 
up  in  the  seclusion  of  the  palace  and  its  gardens.  He  had  black 
slaves  to  attend  upon  him  —  hideous  mutes  who  knew  nothing 
of  love,  or  if  they  did,  had  not  words  to  communicate  it.  His 
mental  endowments  were  the  peculiar  care  of  Eben  Bonabben, 
who  sought  to  initiate  him  into  the  abstruse  lore  of  Egypt ;  but 
in  this  the  prince  made  little  progress,  and  it  was  soon  evident 
that  he  had  no  turn  for  philosophy. 

He  was,  however,  amazingly  ductile  for  a  youthful  prince, 
ready  to  follow  any  advice,  and  always  guided  by  the  last  coun 
sellor.  He  suppressed  his  yawns,  and  listened  patiently  to  the 
long  and  learned  discourses  of  Eben  Bonabben,  from  which  he 
imbibed  a  smattering  of  various  kinds  of  knowledge,  and  thus 
happily  attained  his  twentieth  year,  a  miracle  of  princely  wisdom 
—  but  totally  ignorant  of  love. 

About  this  time,  however,  a  change  came  over  the  conduct  of 
the  prince.  He  completely  abandoned  his  studies/  and  took  to 
strolling  about  the  gardens,  and  musing  by  the  side  of  the  foun 
tains.  He  had  been  taught  a  little  music  among  his  various  accom- 


THE    DISCOVERY    OF   A    HEART  163 

plishments ;  it  now  engrossed  a  great  part  of  his  time  and  a  turn 
for  poetry  became  apparent.  The  sage  Eben  Bonabben  took  the 
alarm,  and  endeavored  to  work  these  idle  humors  out  of  him  by 
a  severe  course  of  algebra ;  but  the  prince  turned  from  it  with  dis 
taste.  "  I  cannot  endure  algebra,"  said  he ;  "  it  is  an  abomina 
tion  to  me.  I  want  something  that  speaks  more  to  the  heart." 

The  sage  Eben  Bonabben  shook  his  dry  head  at  the  words. 
"  Here  is  an  end  to  philosophy,"  thought  he.  "  The  prince  has 
discovered  he  has  a  heart !  "  He  now  kept  anxious  watch  upon 
his  pupil,  and  saw  that  the  latent  tenderness  of  his  nature  was 
in  activity,  and  only  wanted  an  object.  He  wandered  about  the 
gardens  of  the  Generalife  in  an  intoxication  of  feelings  of  which 
he  knew  not  the  cause.  Sometimes  he  would  sit  plunged  in  a 
delicious  revery ;  then  he  would  seize  his  lute  and  draw  from  it 
the  most  touching  notes,  and  then  throw  it  aside,  and  break  forth 
into  sighs  and  ejaculations. 

By  degrees  this  loving  disposition  began  to  extend  to  inani 
mate  objects;  he  had  his  favorite  flowers,  which  he  cherished 
with  tender  assiduity ;  then  he  became  attached  to  various  trees, 
and  there  was  one  in  particular,  of  a  graceful  form  and  drooping 
foliage,  on  which  he  lavished  his  amorous  devotion,  carving  his 
name  on  its  bark,  hanging  garlands  on  its  branches,  and  singing 
couplets  in  its  praise,  to  the  accompaniment  of  his  lute. 

Eben  Bonabben  was  alarmed  at  this  excited  state  of  his  pupil. 
He  saw  him  on  the  very  brink  of  forbidden  knowledge  — -  the 
least  hint  might  reveal  to  him  the  fatal  secret.  Trembling  for 
the  safety  of  the  prince  and  the  security  of  his  own  head,  he 
hastened  to  draw  him  from  the  seductions  of  the  garden,  and  shut 
him  up  in  the  highest  tower  of  the  Generalife.  It  contained 
beautiful  apartments,  and  commanded  an  almost  boundless  pros 
pect,  but  was  elevated  far  above  that  atmosphere  of  sweets  and 
those  witching  bowers  so  dangerous  to  the  feelings  of  the  too 
susceptible  Ahmed. 

What  was  to  be  done,  however,  to  reconcile  him  to  this  re- 


164  THE    ALHAMBRA 

straint  and  to  beguile  the  tedious  hours  ?  He  had  exhausted 
almost  all  kinds  of  agreeable  knowledge ;  and  algebra  was  not 
to  be  mentioned.  Fortunately  Eben  Bonabben  had  been  in 
structed,  when  in  Egypt,  in  the  language  of  birds  by  a  Jewish 
Rabbin,  who  had  received  it  in  lineal  transmission  from  Solomon 
the  Wise,  who  had  been  taught  it  by  the  queen  of  Sheba.  At 
the  very  mention  of  such  a  study,  the  eyes  of  the  prince  sparkled 
with  animation,  and  he  applied  himself  to  it  with  such  avidity, 
that  he  soon  became  as  great  an  adept  as  his  master. 

The  tower  of  the  Generalife  was  no  longer  a  s'olitude  ;  he  had 
companions  at  hand  with  whom  he  could  converse.  The  first 
acquaintance  he  formed  was  with  a  hawk,  who  built  his  nest 
in  a  crevice  of  the  lofty  battlements,  whence  he  soared  far  and 
wide  in  quest  of  prey.  The  prince,  however,  found  little  to  like 
or  esteem  in  him.  He  was  a  mere  pirate  of  the  air,  swaggering 
and  boastful,  whose  talk  was  all  about  rapine  and  carnage,  and 
desperate  exploits. 

His  next  acquaintance  was  an  owl,  a  mighty  wise-looking 
bird,  with  a  huge  head  and  staring  eyes,  who  sat  blinking  and 
goggling  all  day  in  a  hole  in  the  wall,  but  roamed  forth  at  night. 
He  had  great  pretensions  to  wisdom,  talked  something  of  astrol 
ogy  and  the  moon,  and  hinted  at  the  dark  sciences ;  he  was 
grievously  given  to  metaphysics,  and  the  prince  found  his  pros- 
ings  even  more  ponderous  than  those  of  the  sage  Eben  Bonab 
ben. 

Then  there  was  a  bat,  that  hung  all  day  by  his  heels  in  the 
dark  corner  of  a  vault,  but  sallied  out  in  slipshod  style  at  twi 
light.  He,  however,  had  but  twilight  ideas  on  all  subjects,  de 
rided  things  of  which  he  had  taken  but  an  imperfect  view,  and 
seemed  to  take  delight  in  nothing. 

Besides  these  there  was  a  swallow,  with  whom  the  prince 
was  at  first  much  taken.  He  was  a  smart  talker,  but  restless, 
bustling,  and  forever  on  the  wing;  seldom  remaining  long 
enough  for  any  continued  conversation.  He  turned  out  in  the 


THE   BIRDS    OF    THE    TOWER  165 

end  to  be  a  mere  smatterer,  who  did  but  skim  over  the  surface 
of  things,  pretending  to  know  everything,  but  knowing  nothing 
thoroughly. 

These  were  the  only  feathered  associates  with  whom  the 
prince  had  any  opportunity  of  exercising  his  newly  acquired 
language ;  the  tower  was  too  high  for  any  other  birds  to  fre 
quent  it.  He  soon  grew  weary  of  his  new  acquaintances,  whose 
conversation  spoke  so  little  to  the  head  and  nothing  to  the  heart, 
and  gradually  relapsed  into  his  loneliness.  A  winter  passed 
away,  spring  opened  with  all  its  bloom  and  verdure  and  breath 
ing  sweetness,  and  the  happy  time  arrived  for  birds  to  pair  and 
build  their  nests.  Suddenly,  as  .it  were,  a  universal  burst  of 
song  and  melody  broke  forth  from  the  groves  and  gardens  of  the 
Generalife,  and  reached  the  prince  in  the  solitude  of  his  tower. 
From  every  side  he  heard  the  same  universal  theme — love  — 
love  —  love  —  chanted  forth,  and  responded  to  in  every  variety 
of  note  and  tone.  The  prince  listened  in  silence  and  perplexity. 
"  What  can  be  this  love,"  thought  he,  "  of  which  the  world 
seems  so  full,  and  of  which  I  know  nothing  1 "  He  applied  for 
information  to  his  friend  the  hawk.  The  ruffian  bird  answered 
in  a  tone  of  scorn :  "You  must  apply,"  said  he,  "to  the  vulgar 
peaceable  birds  of  earth,  who  are  made  for  the  prey  of  us  princes 
of  the  air.  My  trade  is  war,  and  fighting  my  delight.  I  am  a 
warrior,  and  know  nothing  of  this  thing  called  love." 

The  prince  turned  from  him  with  disgust,  and  sought  the  owl 
in  his  retreat.  "  This  is  a  bird,"  said  he,  "  of  peaceful  habits, 
and  may  be  able  to  solve  my  question."  So  he  asked  the  owl 
to  tell  him  what  was  this  love  about  which  all  the  birds  in 
the  groves  below  were  singing. 

Upon  this  the  owl  put  on  a  look  of  offended  dignity.  "  My 
nights,"  said  he,  "are  taken  up  in  study  and  research,  and  my 
days  in  ruminating  in  my  cell  upon  all  that  I  have  learnt.  As 
to  these  singing  birds  of  whom  you  talk,  I  never  listen  to  them 
—  I  despise  them  and  their  themes.  Allah  be  praised,  I  can- 


166  THE    ALHAMBRA 

not  sing ;  I  am  a  philosopher,  and  know  nothing  of  this  thing 
called  love." 

The  prince  now  repaired  to  the  vault,  where  his  friend  the 
bat  was  hanging  by  the  heels,  and  propounded  the  same  ques 
tion.  The  bat  wrinkled  up  his  nose  into  a  most  snappish 
expression.  "  Why  do  you  disturb  me  in  my  morning's  nap 
with  such  an  idle  question  ?  "  said  he,  peevishly.  "  I  only  fly 
by  twilight  when  all  birds  are  asleep,  and  never  trouble  myself 
with  their  concerns.  I  am  neither  bird  nor  beast,  and  I  thank 
heaven  for  it.  I  have  found  out  the  villany  of  the  whole  of 
them,  and  hate  them  one  and  all.  In  a  word,  I  am  a  misan 
thrope —  and  know  nothing  qf  this  thing  called  love." 

As  a  last  resort,  the  prince  now  sought  the  swallow,  and 
stopped  him  just  as  he  was  circling  about  the  summit  of  the 
tower.  The  swallow,  as  usual,  was  in  a  prodigious  hurry,  and 
had  scarce  time  to  make  a  reply.  "Upon  my  word,"  said  he, 
"  I  have  so  much  public  business  to  attend  to,  and  so  many 
pursuits  to  follow,  that  I  have  had  no  time  to  think  on  the  sub 
ject.  I  have  every  day  a  thousand  visits  to  pay;  a  thousand 
affairs  of  importance  to  examine  into,  that  leave  me  not  a 
moment  of  leisure  for  these  little  sing-song  matters.  In  a 
word,  I  am  a  citizen  of  the  world  —  I  know  nothing  of  this 
thing  called  love."  So  saying,  the  swallow  dived  into  the 
valley,  and  was  out  of  sight  in  a  moment. 

The  prince  remained  disappointed  and  perplexed,  but  with 
his  curiosity  still  more  piqued  by  the  difficulty  of  gratifying  it. 
While  in  this  mood,  his  ancient  guardian  entered  the  tower. 
The  prince  advanced  eagerly  to  meet  him.  "  0  Eben  Bonab- 
ben,"  cried  he,  "thou  hast  revealed  to  me  much  of  the  wisdom 
of  the  earth ;  but  there  is  one  thing  of  which  I  remain  in  utter 
ignorance,  and  would  fain  be  informed." 

"  My  prince  has  but  to  make  the  inquiry,  and  everything 
within  the  limited  range  of  his  servant's  intellect  is  at  his  com 
mand." 


LOVE    DEFINED  167 

"  Tell  me  then,  0  most  profound  of  sages,  what  is  the  nature 
of  this  thing  called  love  1  " 

Eben  Bonabben  was  struck  as  with  a  thunderbolt.  He 
trembled  and  turned  pale,  and  felt  as  if  his  head  sat  but  loosely 
on  his  shoulders. 

"  What  could  suggest  such  a  question  to  my  prince,  —  where 
could  he  have  learnt  so  idle  a  word  ?  " 

The  prince  led  him  to  the  window  of  the  tower.  "  Listen, 
Eben  Bonabben,"  said  he.  The  sage  listened.  The  nightingale 
sat  in  a  thicket  below  the  tower,  singing  to  his  paramour  the 
rose ;  from  every  blossomed  spray  and  tufted  grove  rose  a  strain 
of  melody  ;  and  love  —  love  —  love  —  was  still  the  unvarying 
strain. 

"Allah  Akbar  !  God  is  great !  "  exclaimed  the  wise  Bonabben. 
"Who  shall  pretend  to  keep  this  secret  from  the  heart  of  man, 
when  even  the  birds  of  the  air  conspire  to  betray  it  ?" 

Then  turning  to  Ahmed  —  "0  my  prince,"  cried  he,  "shut 
thine  ears  to  these  seductive  strains.  Close  thy  mind  against 
this  dangerous  knowledge.  Know  that  this  love  is  the  cause  of 
half  the  ills  of  wretched  mortality.  It  is  this  which  produces 
bitterness  and  strife  between  brethren  and  friends ;  which  causes 
treacherous  murder  and  desolating  war.  Care  and  sorrow, 
weary  days  and  sleepless  nights,  are  its  attendants.  It  withers 
the  bloom  and  blights  the  joy  of  youth,  and  brings  on  the  ills 
and  grief  of  premature  old  age.  Allah  preserve  thee,  my  prince, 
in  total  ignorance  of  this  thing  called  love  ! " 

The  sage  Eben  Bonabben  hastily  retired,  leaving  the  prince 
plunged  in  still  deeper  perplexity.  It  was  in  vain  he  attempted 
to  dismiss  the  subject  from  his  mind ;  it  still  continued  upper 
most  in  his  thoughts,  and  teased  and  exhausted  him  with  vain 
conjectures.  Surely,  said  he  to  himself,  as  he  listened  to  the 
tuneful  strains  of  the  birds,  there  is  no  sorrow  in  those  notes ; 
everything  seems  tenderness  and  joy.  If  love  be  a  cause 
of  such  wretchedness  and  strife,  why  are  not  these  birds  droop- 


168  THE    ALHAMBRA 

ing  in  solitude,  or  tearing  each  other  in  pieces,  instead  of  flut 
tering  cheerfully  about  the  groves,  or  sporting  with  each  other 
among  the  flowers  1 " 

He  lay  one  morning  on  his  couch,  meditating  on  this  inexpli 
cable  matter.  The  window  of  his  chamber  was  open  to  admit 
the  soft  morning  breeze,  which  came  laden  with  the  perfume  of 
orange-blossoms  from  the  valley  of  the  Darro.  The  voice  of  the 
nightingale  was  faintly  heard,  still  chanting  the  wonted  theme. 
As  the  prince  was  listening  and  sighing,  there  was  a  sudden 
rushing  noise  in  the  air ;  a  beautiful  dove,  pursued  by  a  hawk, 
darted  in  at  the  window,  and  fell  panting  on  the  floor,  while 
the  pursuer,  balked  of  his  prey,  soared  off  to  the  mountains. 

The  prince  took  up  the  gasping  bird,  smoothed  its  feathers, 
and  nestled  it  in  his  bosom.  When  he  had  soothed  it  by  his 
caresses,  he  put  it  in  a  golden  cage,  and  offered  it,  with  his  own 
hands,  the  whitest  and  finest  of  wheat  and  the  purest  of  water. 
The  bird,  however,  refused  food,  and  sat  drooping  and  pining, 
and  uttering  piteous  moans. 

"  What  aileth  thee  1 "  said  Ahmed.  "  Hast  thou  not  every 
thing  thy  heart  can  wish  ?  " 

"  Alas,  no  ! "  replied  the  dove ;  "  am  I  not  separated  from 
the  partner  of  my  heart,  and  that  too  in  the  happy  spring-time, 
the  very  season  of  love  1 " 

"  Of  love  ! "  echoed  Ahmed.  "  I  pray  thee,  my  pretty  bird, 
canst  thou  then  tell  me  what  is  love  ? " 

"  Too  well  can  I,  my  prince.  It  is  the  torment  of  one,  the 
felicity  of  two,  the  strife  and  enmity  of  three.  It  is  a  charm 
which  draws  two  beings  together,  and  unites  them  by  delicious 
sympathies,  making  it  happiness  to  be  with  each  other,  but 
misery  to  be  apart.  Is  there  no  being  to  whom  you  are  drawn 
by  these  ties  of  tender  affection  1 " 

"  I  like  my  old  teacher  Eben  Bonabben  better  than  any  other 
being ;  but  he  is  often  tedious,  and  I  occasionally  feel  myself 
happier  without  his  society." 


FIRST   LESSONS    OF   LOVE  169 

"  That  is  not  the  sympathy  I  mean.  I  speak  of  love,  the 
great  mystery  and  principle  of  life ;  the  intoxicating  revel  of 
youth;  the  sober  delight  of  age.  Look  forth,  my  prince,  and  be 
hold  how  at  this  blest  season  all  nature  is  full  of  love.  Every 
created  being  has  its  mate  :  the  most  insignificant  bird  sings  to 
its  paramour ;  the  very  beetle  wooes  its  lady-beetle  in  the  dust, 
and  yon  butterflies,  which  you  see  fluttering  high  above  the 
tower  and  toying  in  the  air,  are  happy  in  each  other's  loves. 
Alas,  my  prince  !  hast  thou  spent  so  many  of  the  precious  days 
of  youth  without  knowing  anything  of  love  ?  Is  there  no  gen 
tle  being  of  another  sex  —  no  beautiful  princess  nor  lovely  dam 
sel  who  has  ensnared  your  heart,  and  filled  your  bosom  with  a 
soft  tumult  of  pleasing  pains  and  tender  wishes  ? " 

"I  begin  to  understand,"  said  the  prince,  sighing;  "such  a 
tumult  I  have  more  than  once  experienced,  without  knowing 
the  cause ;  and  where  should  I  seek  for  an  object  such  as  you 
describe  in  this  dismal  solitude  ? " 

A  little  further  conversation  ensued,  and  the  first  amatory 
lesson  of  the  prince  was  complete. 

"  Alas  ! "  said  he,  "  if  love  be  indeed  such  a  delight,  and  its 
interruption  such  a  misery,  Allah  forbid  that  I  should  mar  the 
joy  of  any  of  its  votaries."  He  opened  the  cage,  took  out  the 
dove,  and  having  fondly  kissed  it,  carried  it  to  the  window. 
"Go,  happy  bird,"  said  he,  "rejoice  with  the  partner  of  thy 
heart  in  the  days  of  youth  and  spring-time.  Why  should  I 
make  thee  a  fellow-prisoner  in  this  dreary  tower,  where  love  can 
never  enter1?" 

The  dove  flapped  its  wings  in  rapture,  gave  one  vault  into 
the  air,  and  then  swooped  downward  on  whistling  wings  to  the 
blooming  bowers  of  the  Darro. 

The  prince  followed  him  with  his  eyes,  and  then  gave  way  to 
bitter  repining.  The  singing  of  the  birds,  which  once  delighted 
him,  now  added  to  his  bitterness.  Love  !  love  !  love  !  Alas, 
poor  youth  !  he  now  understood  the  strain, 


170  THE    ALHAMBRA 

His  eyes  flashed  fire  when  next  he  beheld  the  sage  Bonabben. 
"  Why  hast  thou  kept  me  in  this  abject  ignorance  1 "  cried  he. 
"  Why  has  the  great  mystery  and  principle  of  life  been  withheld 
from  me,  in  which  I  find  the  meanest  insect  is  so  learned  ? 
Behold  all  nature  is  in  a  revel  of  delight.  Every  created  being 
rejoices  with  its  mate.  This  —  this  is  the  love  about  which  I 
have  sought  instruction.  Why  am  I  alone  debarred  its  enjoy 
ment  ?  Why  has  so  much  of  my  youth  been  wasted  without  a 
knowledge  of  its  raptures  1 " 

The  sage  Bonabben  saw  that  all  further  reserve  was  useless ; 
for  the  prince  had  acquired  the  dangerous  and  forbidden  knowl 
edge.  He  revealed  to  him,  therefore,  the  predictions  of  the 
astrologers  and  the  precautions  that  had  been  taken  in  his 
education  to  avert  the  threatened  evils.  "And  now,  my 
prince,"  added  he,  "  my  life  is  in  your  hands.  Let  the  king 
your  father  discover  that  you  have  learned  the  passion  of  love 
while  under  my  guardianship,  and  my  head  must  answer  for  it." 

The  prince  was  as  reasonable  as  most  young  men  of  his  age, 
and  easily  listened  to  the  remonstrances  of  his  tutor,  since  noth 
ing  pleaded  against  them.  Besides,  he  really  was  attached  to 
Eben  Bonabben,  and  being  as  yet  but  theoretically  acquainted 
with  the  passion  of  love,  he  consented  to  confine  the  knowledge 
of  it  to  his  own  bosom,  rather  than  endanger  the  head  of  the 
philosopher. 

His  discretion  was  doomed,  however,  to  be  put  to  still  further 
proofs.  A  few  mornings  afterwards,  as  he  was  ruminating  on 
the  battlements  of  the  tower,  the  dove  which  had  been  released 
by  him  came  hovering  in  the  air,  and  alighted  fearlessly  upon 
his  shoulder. 

The  prince  fondled  it  to  his-  heart.  "  Happy  bird,"  said  he, 
"  who  can  fly,  as  it  were,  with  the  wings  of  the  morning  to  the 
uttermost  parts  of  the  earth.  Where  hast  thou  been  since  we 
parted  ? " 

"In  a  far  country,  my  prince,  whence  I  bring  you  tidings  in 


A    LOVE-MISSIVE  171 

reward  for  my  liberty.  In  the  wild  compass  of  my  flight, 
which  extends  over  plain  and  mountain,  as  I  was  soaring  in 
the  air,  I  beheld  below  me  a  delightful  garden  with  all  kinds  of 
fruits  and  flowers.  It  was  in  a  green  meadow,  on  the  banks  of 
a  wandering  stream ;  and  in  the  centre  of  the  garden  was  a 
stately  palace.  I  alighted  in  one  of  the  bowers  to  repose  after 
my  weary  flight.  On  the  green  bank  below  me  was  a  youthful 
princess,  in  the  very  sweetness  and  bloom  of  her  years.  She 
was  surrounded  by  female  attendants,  young  like  herself,  who 
decked  her  with  garlands  and  coronets  of  flowers ;  but  no  flower 
of  field  or  garden  could  compare  with  her  for  loveliness.  Here, 
however,  she  bloomed  in  secret,  for  the  garden  was  surrounded 
by  high  walls,  and  no  mortal  man  was  permitted  to  enter. 
When  I  beheld  this  beauteous  maid,  thus  young  and  innocent 
and  unspotted  by  the  world,  I  thought,  here  is  the  being  formed 
by  heaven  to  inspire  my  prince  with  love." 

The  description  was  a  spark  of  fire  to  the  combustible  heart 
of  Ahmed  ;  all  the  latent  amorousness  of  his  temperament  had 
at  once  found  an  object,  and  he  conceived  an  immeasurable  pas 
sion  for  the  princess.  He  wrote  a  letter,  couched  in  the  most 
impassioned  language,  breathing  his  fervent  devotion,  but  be 
wailing  the  unhappy  thraldom  of  his  person,  which  prevented 
him  from  seeking  her  out  and  throwing  himself  at  her  feet. 
He  added  couplets  of  the  most  tender  and  moving  eloquence, 
for  he  was  a  poet  by  nature,  and  inspired  by  love.  He  addressed 
his  letter  —  "  To  the  Unknown  Beauty,  from  the,  captive  Prince 
Ahmed ; "  then  perfuming  it  with  musk  and  roses,  he  gave  it 
to  the  dove. 

"  Away,  trustiest  of  messengers  !  "  said  he.  "  Fly  over  moun 
tain,  and  valley,  and  river,  and  plain ;  rest  not  in  bower,  nor 
set  foot  on  earth,  until  thou  hast  given  this  letter  to  the  mis 
tress  of  my  heart." 

The  dove  soared  high  in  the  air,  and  taking  his  course  darted 
away  in  one  undeviating  direction.  The  prince  followed  him 


172  THE    ALHAMBRA 

with  his  eye  until  he  was  a  mere  speck  on  a  cloud,  and  gradually 
disappeared  behind  a  mountain. 

Day  after  day  he  watched  for  the  return  of  the  messenger  of 
love,  but  he  watched  in  vain.  He  began  to  accuse  him  of  for- 
getfulness,  when  towards  sunset  one  evening  the  faithful  bird 
fluttered  into  his  apartment,  and  falling  at  his  feet  expired. 
The  arrow  of  some  wanton  archer  had  pierced  his  breast,  yet  he 
had  struggled  with  the  lingerings  of  life  to  execute  his  mission. 
As  the  prince  bent  with  grief  over  this  gentle  martyr  to  fidelity, 
he  beheld  a  chain  of  pearls  round  his  neck,  attached  to  which, 
beneath  his  wing,  was  a  small  enamelled  picture.  It  repre 
sented  a  lovely  princess  in  the  very  flower  of  her  years.  It  was 
doubtless  the  unknown  beauty  of  the  garden;  but  who  and 
where  was  she? — how  had  she  received  his  letter?  and  was 
this  picture  sent  as  a  token  of  her  approval  of  his  passion  ? 
Unfortunately  the  death  of  the  faithful  dove  left  everything  in 
mystery  and  doubt. 

The  prince  gazed  on  the  picture  till  his  eyes  swam  with  tears. 
He  pressed  it  to  his  lips  and  to  his  heart ;  he  sat  for  hours  con 
templating  it  almost  in  an  agony  of  tenderness.  "  Beautiful 
image  !  "  said  he,  "  alas,  thou  art  but  an  image  !  Yet  thy  dewy 
eyes  beam  tenderly  upon  me  ;  those  rosy  lips  look  as  though 
they  would  speak  encouragement :  vain  fancies  !  Have  they 
not  looked  the  same  on  some  more  happy  rival  ?  But  where 
in  this  wide  world  shall  I  hope  to  find  the  original  1  Who 
knows  what  mountains,  what  realms  may  separate  us ;  what 
adverse  chances  may  intervene  1  Perhaps  now,  even  now, 
lovers  may  be  crowding  around  her,  while  I  sit  here  a  prisoner 
in  a  tower,  wasting  my  time  in  adoration  of  a  painted  shadow." 

The  resolution  of  Prince  Ahmed  was  taken.  "I  will  fly 
from  this  palace,"  said  he,  "  which  has  become  an  odious  prison  ; 
and,  a  pilgrim  of  love,  will  seek  this  unknown  princess  through 
out  the  world."  To  escape  from  the  tower  in  the  day,  when 
every  one  was  awake,  might  be  a  difficult  matter ;  but  at  night 


THE    OWL    A    PHILOSOPHER  173 

the  palace  was  slightly  guarded ;  for  no  one  apprehended  any 
attempt  of  the  kind  from  the  prince,  who  had  always  been  so 
passive  in  his  captivity.  How  was  he  to  guide  himself,  how 
ever,  in  his  darkling  flight,  being  ignorant  of  the  country?  He 
bethought  him  of  the  owl,  who  was  accustomed  to  roam  at 
night,  and  must  know  every  by -lane  and  secret  pass.  Seeking 
him  in  his  hermitage,  he  questioned  him  touching  his  knowledge 
of  the  land.  Upon  this  the  owl  put  on  a  mighty  self-important 
look.  "You  must  know,  0  prince,"  said  he,  "that  we  owls 
are  of  a  very  ancient  and  extensive  family,  though  rather  fallen 
to  decay,  and  possess  ruinous  castles  and  palaces  in  all  parts  of 
Spain.  There  is  scarcely  a  tower  of  the  mountains,  or  a  fortress 
of  the  plains,  or  an  old  citadel  of  a  city,  but  has  some  brother, 
or  uncle,  or  cousin,  quartered  in  it ;  and  in  going  the  rounds  to 
visit  this  my  numerous  kindred,  I  have  pried  into  every  nook 
and  corner,  and  made  myself  acquainted  with  every  secret  of 
the  land." 

The  prince  was  overjoyed  to  find  the  owl  so  deeply  versed  in 
topography,  and  now  informed  him,  in  confidence,  of  his  tender 
passion  and  his  intended  elopement,  urging  him  to  be  his  com 
panion  and  counsellor. 

"Go  to  !"  said  the  owl,  with  a  look  of  displeasure;  "am  I 
a  bird  to  engage  in  a  love-affair?  —  I,  whose  whole  time  is 
devoted  to  meditation  and  the  moon  ? " 

"Be  not  offended,  most  solemn  owl,"  replied  the  prince; 
"  abstract  thyself  for  a  time  from  meditation  and  the  moon,  and 
aid  me  in  my  flight,  and  thou  shalt  have  whatever  heart  can 
wish." 

"I  have  that  already,"  said  the  owl:  "a  few  mice  are  suffi 
cient  for  my  frugal  table,  and  this  hole  in  the  wall  is  spacious 
enough  for  my  studies;  and  what  more  does  a  philosopher  like 
myself  desire  ? " 

"  Bethink  thee,  most  wise  owl,  that  while  moping  in  thy  cell 
and  gazing  at  the  moon,  all  thy  talents  are  lost  to  the  world. 


174  THE    ALHAMBRA 

I  shall  one  day  be  a  sovereign  prince,  and  may  advance  thee  to 
some  post  of  honor  and  dignity." 

The  owl,  though  a  philosopher  and  above  the  ordinary  wants 
of  life,  was  not  above  ambition,  so  he  was  finally  prevailed  on 
to  elope  with  the  prince,  and  be  his  guide  and  mentor  in  his 
pilgrimage. 

The  plans  of  a  lover  are  promptly  executed.  The  prince 
collected  all  his  jewels,  and  concealed  them  about  his  person 
as  travelling  funds.  That  very  night  he  lowered  himself  by 
his  scarf  from  a  balcony  of  the  tower,  clambered  over  the  outer 
walls  of  the  Generalife,  and,  guided  by  the  owl,  made  good  his 
escape  before  morning  to  the  mountains. 

He  now  held  a  council  with  his  mentor  as  to  his  future 
course. 

" Might  I  advise,"  said  the  owl,  "I  would  recommend  you 
to  repair  to  Seville.  You  must  know  that  many  years  since  I 
was  on  a  visit  to  an  uncle,  an  owl  of  great  dignity  and  power, 
who  lived  in  a  ruined  wing  of  the  Alcazar  of  that  place.  In 
my  hoverings  at  night  over  the  city  I  frequently  remarked  a 
light  burning  in  a  lonely  tower.  At  length  I  alighted  on  the 
battlements,  and  found  it  to  proceed  from  the  lamp  of  an 
Arabian  magician :  he  was  surrounded  by  his  magic  books,  and 
on  his  shoulder  was  perched  his  familiar,  an  ancient  raven  who 
had  come  with  him  from  Egypt.  I  am  acquainted  with  that 
raven,  and  owe  to  him  a  great  part  of  the  knowledge  I  possess. 
The  magician  is  since  dead,  but  the  raven  still  inhabits  the 
tower,  for  these  birds,  are  of  wonderful  long  life.  I  would 
advise  you,  0  prince,  to  seek  that  raven,  for  he  is  a  soothsayer 
and  a  conjurer,  and  deals  in  the  black  art,  for  which  all  ravens, 
and  especially  those  of  Egypt,  are  renowned." 

The  prince  was  struck  with  the  wisdom  of  this  advice,  and 
accordingly  bent  his  course  towards  Seville.  He  travelled  only 
in  the  night  to  accommodate  his  companion,  and  lay  by  during 
the  day  in  some  dark  cavern  or  mouldering  watch-tower,  for 


THE    CABALISTIC    RAVEN  175 

the  owl  knew  every  hiding-hole  of  the  kind,  and  had  a  most 
antiquarian  taste  for  ruins. 

At  length  one  morning  at  daybreak  they  reached  the  city  of 
Seville,  where  the  owl,  who  hated  the  glare  and  bustle  of 
crowded  streets,  halted  without  the  gate,  and  took  up  his 
quarters  in  a  hollow  tree. 

The  prince  entered  the  gate,  and  readily  found  the  magic 
tower,  which  rose  above  the  houses  of  the  city,  as  a  palm-tree 
rises  above  the  shrubs  of  the  desert ;  it  was  in  fact  the  same 
tower  standing  at  the  present  day,  and  known  as  the  Giralda, 
the  famous  Moorish  tower  of  Seville. 

The  prince  ascended  by  a  great  winding  staircase  to  the 
summit  of  the  tower,  where  he  found  the  cabalistic  raven,  — 
an  old,  mysterious,  gray-headed  bird,  ragged  in  feather,  with  a 
film  over  one  eye  that  gave  him  the  glare  of  a  spectre.  He 
was  perched  on  one  leg,  with  his  head  turned  on  one  side,  poring 
with  his  remaining  eye  on  a  diagram  described  on  the  pavement. 

The  prince  approached  him  with  the  awe  and  reverence  natu 
rally  inspired  by  his  venerable  appearance  and  supernatural  wis 
dom.  "Pardon  me,  most  ancient  and  darkly  wise  raven," 
exclaimed  he,  "  if  for  a  moment  I  interrupt  those  studies  which 
are  the  wonder  of  the  world.  You  behold  before  you  a  votary 
of  love,  who  would  fain  seek  your  counsel  how  to  obtain  the 
object  of  his  passion." 

"  In  other  words,"  said  the  raven,  with  a  significant  look, 
"you  seek  to  try  my  skill  in  palmistry.  Come,  show  me  your 
hand,  and  let  me  decipher  the  mysterious  lines  of  fortune." 

"Excuse  me,"  said  the  prince,  "I  come  not  to  pry  into  the 
decrees  of  fate,  which  are  hidden  by  Allah  from  the  eyes  of 
mortals ;  I  am  a  pilgrim  of  love,  and  seek  but  to  find  a  clue  to 
the  object  of  my  pilgrimage." 

"  And  can  you  be  at  any  loss  for  an  object  in  amorous  Anda 
lusia'?"  said  the  old  raven,  leering  upon  him  with  his  single 
eye;  "above  all,  can  you  be  at  a  loss  in  wanton  Seville, 


176  THE    ALHAMBRA 

where  black-eyed  damsels  dance  the  zambra  under  every  orange 
grove?" 

The  prince  blushed,  and  was  somewhat  shocked  at  hearing 
an  old  bird  with  one  foot  in  the  grave  talk  thus  loosely.  "  Be 
lieve  me,"  said  he,  gravely,  "  I  am  on  none  such  light  and  vagrant 
errand  as  thou  dost  insinuate.  The  black-eyed  damsels  of  An 
dalusia  who  dance  among  the  orange  groves  of  the  Guadalquivir 
are  as  naught  to  me.  I  seek  one  unknown  but  immaculate 
beauty,  the  original  of  this  picture ;  and  I  beseech  thee,  most 
potent  raven,  if  it  be  within  the  scope  of  thy  knowledge  or  the 
reach  of  thy  art,  inform  me  where  she  may  be  found  ? " 

The  gray-headed  raven  was  rebuked  by  the  gravity  of  the 
prince. 

"What  know  I,"  replied  he,  dryly,  "of  youth  and  beauty1? 
My  visits  are  to  the  old  and  withered,  not  the  fresh  and  fair ; 
the  harbinger  of  fate  am  I ;  who  croak  bodings  of  death  from 
the  chimney-top,  and  flap  my  wings  at  the  sick  man's  win 
dow.  You  must  seek  elsewhere  for  tidings  of  your  unknown 
beauty." 

"And  where  can  I  seek  if  not  among  the  sons  of  wisdom, 
versed  in  the  book  of  destiny*?  Know  that  I  am  a  royal  prince, 
fated  by  the  stars,  and  sent  on  a  mysterious  enterprise  on  which 
may  hang  the  destiny  of  empires." 

When  the  raven  heard  that  it  was  a  matter  of  vast  moment, 
in  which  the  stars  took  interest,  he  changed  his  tone  and  man 
ner,  arid  listened  with  profound  attention  to  the  story  of  the 
prince.  WThen  it  was  concluded,  he  replied,  "Touching  this 
princess,  I  can  give  thee  no  information  of  myself,  for  my  flight 
is  not  among  gardens,  or  around  ladies'  bowers  ;  but  hie  thee  to 
Cordova,  seek  the  palm-tree  of  the  great  Abderahman,  which 
stands  in  the  court  of  the  principal  mosque  :  at  the  foot  of  it 
thou  wilt  find  a  great  traveller  who  has  visited  all  countries 
and  courts,  and  been  a  favorite  with  queens  and  princesses. 
He  will  give  thee  tidings  of  the  object  of  thy  search." 


THE    TRAVELLED    PARROT  177 

"  Many  thanks  for  this  precious  information,"  said  the  prince. 
"  Farewell,  most  venerable  conjurer." 

"  Farewell,  pilgrim  of  love,"  said  the  raven,  dryly,  and  again 
fell  to  pondering  on  the  diagram. 

The  prince  sallied  forth  from  Seville,  sought  his  fellow-trav 
eller  the  owl,  who  was  still  dozing  in  the  hollow  tree,  and  set 
off  for  Cordova. 

He  approached  it  along  hanging  gardens,  and  orange  and 
citron  groves,  overlooking  the  fair  valley  of  the  Guadalquivir. 
When  arrived  at  its  gates  the  owl  flew  up  to  a  dark  hole  in  the 
wall,  and  the  prince  proceeded  in  quest  of  the  palm-tree  planted 
in  days  of  yore  by  the  great  Abderahman.  It  stood  in  the 
midst  of  the  great  court  of  the  mosque,  towering  from  amidst 
orange  and  cypress  trees.  Dervises  and  faquirs  were  seated  in 
groups  under  the  cloisters  of  the  court,  and  many  of  the  faithful 
were  performing  their  ablutions  at  the  fountains  before  entering 
the  mosque. 

At  the  foot  of  the  palm-tree  was  a  crowd  listening  to  the 
words  of  one  who  appeared  to  be  talking  with  great  volubility. 
"  This,"  said  the  prince  to  himself,  "must  be  the  great  traveller 
who  is  to  give  me  tidings  of  the  unknown  princess."  He  min 
gled  in  the  crowd,  but  was  astonished  to  perceive  that  they 
were  all  listening  to  a  parrot,  who  with  his  bright-green  coat, 
pragmatical  eye,  and  consequential  top-knot  had  the  air  of  a 
bird  on  excellent  terms  with  himself. 

"  How  is  this,"  said  the  prince  to  one  of  the  by-standers, 
"  that  so  many  grave  persons  can  be  delighted  with  the  garrulity 
of  a  chattering  bird  ? " 

"You  know  not  whom  you  speak  of,"  said  the  other;  "this 
parrot  is  a  descendant  of  the  famous  parrot  of  Persia,  renowned 
for  his  story-telling  talent.  He  has  all  the  learning  of  the  East 
at  the  tip  of  his  tongue,  and  can  quote  poetry  as  fast  as  he  can 
talk.  He  has  visited  various  foreign  courts,  where  he  has  been 
considered  an  oracle  of  erudition.  He  has  been  a  universal 


178  THE    ALHAMBRA 

favorite  also  with  the  fair  sex,  who  have  a  vast  admiration  for 
erudite  parrots  that  can  quote  poetry." 

"Enough,"  said  the  prince,  "I  will  have  some  private  talk 
with  this  distinguished  traveller." 

He  sought  a  private  interview,  and  expounded  the  nature  of 
his  errand.  He  had  scarcely  mentioned  it  when  the  parrot 
burst  into  a  fit  of  dry  rickety  laughter,  that  absolutely  brought 
tears  into  his  eyes.  "  Excuse  my  merriment,"  said  he,  "  but  the 
mere  mention  of  love  always  sets  me  laughing." 

The  prince  was  shocked  at  this  ill-timed  mirth.  "  Is  not 
love,"  said  he,  "  the  great  mystery  of  nature,  the  secret  princi 
ple  of  life,  the  universal  bond  of  sympathy  ? " 

"  A  fig's  end  !  "  cried  the  parrot,  interrupting  him ;  "  prithee 
where  hast  thou  learned  this  sentimental  jargon  ?  Trust  me,  love 
is  quite  out  of  vogue ;  one  never  hears  of  it  in  the  company  of 
wits  and  people  of  refinement." 

The  prince  sighed  as  he  recalled  the  different  language  of  his 
friend  the  dove.  But  this  parrot,  thought  he,  has  lived  about 
the  court,  he  affects  the  wit  and  the  fine  gentleman,  he  knows 
nothing  of  the  thing  called  love.  Unwilling  to  provoke  any 
more  ridicule  of  the  sentiment  which  filled  his  heart,  he 
now  directed  his  inquiries  to  the  immediate  purport  of  his 
visit. 

"Tell  me,"  said  he,  "most  accomplished  parrot,  thou  who 
hast  everywhere  been  admitted  to  the  most  secret  bowers  of 
beauty,  hast  thou  in  the  course  of  thy  travels  met  with  the 
original  of  this  portrait?" 

The  parrot  took  the  picture  in  his  claw,  turned  his  head  from 
side  to  side,  and  examined  it  curiously  with  either  eye.  "  Upon 
my  honor,"  said  he,  "a  very  pretty  face,  very  pretty;  but  then 
one  sees  so  many  pretty  women  in  one's  travels  that  one  can 
hardly  —  but  hold  —  bless  me  !  now  I  look  at  it  again  —  sure 
enough,  this  is  the  Princess  Aldegonda :  how  could  I  forget  one 
that  is  so  prodigious  a  favorite  with  me ! " 


THE    TRAVELLED    PARROT  179 

"The  Princess  Aldegonda  !  "  echoed  the  prince;  "and  where 
is  she  to  be  found  ? " 

"  Softly,  softly,"  said  the  parrot,  "  easier  to  be  found  than 
gained.  She  is  the  only  daughter  of  the  Christian  king  who 
reigns  at  Toledo,  and  is  shut  up  from  the  world  until  her  seven 
teenth  birthday,  on  account  of  some  prediction  of  those  meddle 
some  fellows  the  astrologers.  You'll  not  get  a  sight  of  her;  no 
mortal  man  can  see  her.  I  was  admitted  to  her  presence  to 
entertain  her,  and  I  assure  you,  on  the  word  of  a  parrot  who 
has  seen  the  world,  I  have  conversed  with  much  sillier  princesses 
in  my  time." 

"  A  word  in  confidence,  my  dear  parrot,"  said  the  prince.  "I 
am  heir  to  a  kingdom,  and  shall  one  day  sit  upon  a  throne.  I 
see  that  you  are  a  bird  of  parts,  and  understand  the  world. 
Help  me  to  gain  possession  of  this  princess,  and  I  will  advance 
you  to  some  distinguished  place  about  court." 

"  With  all  my  heart,"  said  the  parrot ;  "  but  let  it  be  a  sine 
cure  if  possible,  for  we  wits  have  a  great  dislike  to  labor." 

Arrangements  were  promptly  made :  the  prince  sallied  forth 
from  Cordova  through  the  same  gate  by  which  he  had  entered ; 
called  the  owl  down  from  the  hole  in  the  wall,  introduced  him 
to  his  new  travelling  companion  as  a  brother  savant,  and  away 
they  set  off  on  their  journey. 

They  travelled  much  more  slowly  than  accorded  with  the  im 
patience  of  the  prince ;  but  the  parrot  was  accustomed  to  high 
life,  and  did  not  like  to  be  disturbed  early  in  the  morning.  The 
owl,  on  the  other  hand,  was  for  sleeping  at  mid-day,  and  lost  a 
great  deal  of  time  by  his  long  siestas.  His  antiquarian  taste 
also  was  in  the  way ;  for  he  insisted  on  pausing  and  inspecting 
every  ruin,  and  had  long  legendary  tales  to  tell  about  every  old 
tower  and  castle  in  the  country.  The  prince  had  supposed  that 
he  and  the  parrot  being  both  birds  of  learning,  would  delight 
in  each  other's  society,  but  never  had  he  been  more  mistaken. 
They  were  eternally  bickering.  The  one  was  a  wit,  the  other 


180  THE    ALHAMBRA 

a  philosopher.  The  parrot  quoted  poetry,  was  critical  on  new 
readings  and  eloquent  on  small  points  of  erudition  ;  the  owl 
treated  all  such  knowledge  as  trifling,  and  relished  nothing  but 
metaphysics.  Then  the  parrot  would  sing  songs  and  repeat  bon 
mots  and  crack  jokes  upon  his  solemn  neighbor,  and  laugh  out 
rageously  at  his  own  wit ;  all  which  proceedings  the  owl  con 
sidered  as  a  grievous  invasion  of  his  dignity,  and  would  scowl 
and  sulk  and  swell,  and  be  silent  for  a  whole  day  together. 

The  prince  heeded  not  the  wranglings  of  his  companions, 
being  wrapped  up  in  the  dreams  of  his  own  fancy  and  the  con 
templation  of  the  portrait  of  the  beautiful  princess.  In  this 
way  they  journeyed  through  the  stern  passes  of  the  Sierra  Mo- 
rena,  across  the  sunburnt  plains  of  La  Mancha  and  Castile,  and 
along  the  banks  of  the  "  Golden  Tagus,"  which  winds  its  wizard 
mazes  over  one-half  of  Spain  and  Portugal.  At  length  they 
came  in  sight  of  a  strong  city  with  walls  and  towers  built  on 
a  rocky  promontory,  round  the  foot  of  which  the  Tagus  circled 
with  brawling  violence. 

"Behold,"  exclaimed  the  owl,  "the  ancient  and  renowned 
city  of  Toledo ;  a  city  famous  for  its  antiquities.  Behold  those 
venerable  domes  and  towers,  hoary  with  time  and  clothed  with 
legendary  grandeur,  in  which  so  many  of  my  ancestors  have 
meditated." 

"  Pish ! "  cried  the  parrot,  interrupting  his  solemn  antiqua 
rian  rapture,  "  what  have  we  to  do  with  antiquities,  and  legends, 
and  your  ancestry?  Behold  what  is  more  to  the  purpose  — 
behoid  the  abode  of  youth  and  beauty  —  behold  at  length,  0 
prince,  the  abode  of  your  long-sought  princess." 

The  prince  looked  in  the  direction  indicated  by  the  parrot, 
and  beheld,  in  a  delightful  green  meadow  on  the  banks  of  the 
Tagus,  a  stately  palace  rising  from  amidst  the  bowers  of  a  deli 
cious  garden.  It  was  just  such  a  place  as  had  been  described 
by  the  dove  as  the  residence  of  the  original  of  the  picture. 
He  gazed  at  it  with  a  throbbing  heart ;  "perhaps  at  this  mo- 


TOLEDO  181 

ment,"  thought  he,  "  the  beautiful  princess  is  sporting  beneath 
those  shady  bowers,  or  pacing  with  delicate  step  those  stately 
terraces,  or  reposing  beneath  those  lofty  roofs  ! "  As  he  looked 
more  narrowly,  he  perceived  that  the  walls  of  the  garden  were 
of  great  height,  so  as  to  defy  access,  while  numbers  of  armed 
guards  patrolled  around  them. 

The  prince  turned  to  the  parrot.  "  0  most  accomplished  of 
birds,"  said  he,  "thou  hast  the  gift  of  human  speech.  Hie 
thee  to  yon  garden  ;  seek  the  idol  of  my  soul,  and  tell  her  that 
Prince  Ahmed,  a  pilgrim  of  love,  and  guided  by  the  stars,  has 
arrived  in  quest  of  her  on  the  flowery  banks  of  the  Tagus." 

The  parrot,  proud  of  his  embassy,  flew  away  to  the  garden, 
mounted  above  its  lofty  walls,  and  after  soaring  for  a  time  over 
the  lawns  and  groves,  alighted  on  the  balcony  of  a  pavilion  that 
overhung  the  river.  Here,  looking  in  at  the  casement,  he  be 
held  the  princess  reclining  on  a  couch,  with  her  eyes  fixed  on  a 
paper,  while  tears  gently  stole  after  each  other  down  her  pallid 
cheek. 

Pluming  his  wings  for  a  moment,  adjusting  his  bright-green 
coat,  and  elevating  his  top-knot,  the  parrot  perched  himself  be 
side  her  with  a  gallant  air ;  then  assuming  a  tenderness  of  tone, 
"  Dry  thy  tears,  most  beautiful  of  princesses,"  said  he ;  "I  come 
to  bring  solace  to  thy  heart." 

The  princess  was  startled  on  hearing  a  voice,  but  turning  and 
seeing  nothing  but  a  little  green-coated  bird  bobbing  and  bow 
ing  before  her.  "Alas  !  what  solace  canst  thou  yield,"  said  she, 
"  seeing  thou  art  but  a  parrot  ? " 

The  parrot  was  nettled  at  the  question.  "  I  have  consoled 
many  beautiful  ladies  in  my  time,"  said  he  ;  "  but  let  that  pass. 
At  present  I  come  ambassador  from  a  royal  prince.  Know  that 
Ahmed,  the  prince  of  Granada,  has  arrived  in  quest  of  thee,  and 
is  encamped  even  now  on  the  flowery  banks  of  the  Tagus." 

The  eyes  of  the  beautiful  princess  sparkled  at  these  words 
even  brighter  than  the  diamonds  in  her  coronet.  "  0  sweetest 


182  THE    ALHAMBRA 

of  parrots,"  cried  she,  "joyful  indeed  are  thy  tidings,  for  I  was 
faint  and  weary,  and  sick  almost  unto  death  with  doubt  of  the 
constancy  of  Ahmed.  Hie  thee  back,  and  tell  him  that  the 
words  of  his  letter  are  engraven  in  my  heart,  and  his  poetry 
has  been  the  food  of  my  soul.  Tell  him,  however,  that  he  must 
prepare  to  prove  his  love  by  force  of  arms ;  to-morrow  is  my 
seventeenth  birthday,  when  the  king  my  father  holds  a  great 
tournament ;  several  princes  are  to  enter  the  lists,  and  my  hand 
is  to  be  the  prize  of  the  victor." 

The  parrot  again  took  wing,  and,  rustling  through  the  groves, 
flew  back  to  where  the  prince  awaited  his  return.  The  rapture 
of  Ahmed  on  finding  the  original  of  his  adored  portrait,  and 
finding  her  kind  and  true,  can  only  be  conceived  by  those 
favored  mortals  who  have  had  the  good  fortune  to  realize  day 
dreams  and  turn  a  shadow  into  substance :  still  there  was  one 
thing  that  alloyed  his  transport  —  this  impending  tournament. 
In  fact,  the  banks  of  the  Tagus  were  already  glittering  with 
arms,  and  resounding  with  trumpets  of  the  various  knights, 
who,  with  proud  retinues,  were  prancing  on  towards  Toledo 
to  attend  the  ceremonial.  The  same  star  that  had  controlled 
the  destiny  of  the  prince  had  governed  that  of  the  princess, 
and  until  her  seventeenth  birthday  she  had  been  shut  up  from 
the  world,  to  guard  her  from  the  tender  passion.  The  fame  of 
her  charms,  however,  had  been  enhanced  rather  than  obscured 
by  this  seclusion.  Several  powerful  princes  had  contended 
for  her  hand;  and  her  father,  who  was  a  king  of  wondrous 
shrewdness,  to  avoid  making  enemies  by  showing  partiality,  had 
referred  them  to  the  arbitrament  of  arms.  Among  the  rival  can 
didates  were  several  renowned  for  strength  and  prowess.  What 
a  predicament  for  the  unfortunate  Ahmed,  unprovided  as  he 
was  with  weapons,  and  unskilled  in  the  exercise  of  chivalry! 
"Luckless  prince  that  I  am  ! "  said  he,  "  to  have  been  brought 
up  in  seclusion  under  the  eye  of  a  philosopher !  Of  what  avail 
are  algebra  and  philosophy  in  affairs  of  love  ?  Alas,  Eben  Bon- 


ENCHANTED    AtiMOtt  183 

abben !  why  hast  thou  neglected  to  instruct  me  in  the  manage 
ment  of  arms  ? "  Upon  this  the  owl  broke  silence,  preluding 
his  harangue  with  a  pious  ejaculation,  for  he  was  a  devout 
Mussulman. 

"  Allah  Akbar !  God  is  great !  "  exclaimed  he ;  "in  his  hands 
are  all  secret  things  —  he  alone  governs  the  destiny  of  princes ! 
Know,  0  prince,  that  this  land  is  full  of  mysteries,  hidden  from 
all  but  those  who,  like  myself,  can  grope  after  knowledge  in 
the  dark.  Know  that  in  the  neighboring  mountains  there  is 
a  cave,  and  in  that  cave  there  is  an  iron  table,  and  on  that 
table  there  lies  a  suit  of  magic  armor,  and  beside  that  table 
there  stands  a  spell-bound  steed,  which  have  been  shut  up  there 
for  many  generations." 

The  prince  stared  with  wonder,  while  the  owl,  blinking  his 
huge  round  eyes  and  erecting  his  horns,  proceeded. 

"  Many  years  since  I  accompanied  my  father  to  these  parts 
on  a  tour  of  his  estates,  and  we  sojourned  in  that  cave;  and 
thus  became  I  acquainted  with  the  mystery.  It  is  a  tradition 
in  our  family  which  I  have  heard  from  my  grandfather,  when  I 
was  yet  but  a  very  little  owlet,  that  this  armor  belonged  to  a 
Moorish  magician,  who  took  refuge  in  this  cavern  when  Toledo 
was  captured  by  the  Christians,  and  died  there,  leaving  his 
steed  and  weapons  under  a  mystic  spell,  never  to  be  used  but 
by  a  Moslem,  and  by  him  only  from  sunrise  to  mid-day.  In 
that  interval,  whoever  uses  them  will  overthrow  every  opponent." 

"  Enough :  let  us  seek  this  cave !  "  exclaimed  Ahmed. 

Guided  by  his  legendary  mentor,  the  prince  found  the  cavern, 
which  was  in  one  of  the  wildest  recesses  of  those  rocky  cliffs 
which  rise  around  Toledo ;  none  but  the  mousing  eye  of  an  owl 
or  an  antiquary  could  have  discovered  the  entrance  to  it.  A 
sepulchral  lamp  of  everlasting  oil  shed  a  solemn  light  through 
the  place.  On  an  iron  table  in  the  centre  of  the  cavern  lay  the 
magic  armor,  against  it  leaned  the  lance,  and  beside  it  stood  an 
Arabian  steed,  caparisoned  for  the  field,  but  motionless  as  a 


184  THE    ALHAMBRA 

statue.  The  armor  was  bright  and  unsullied  as  it  had  gleamed 
in  days  of  old;  the  steed  in  as  good  condition  as  if  just  from 
the  pasture;  and  when  Ahmed  laid  his  hand  upon  his  neck,  he 
pawed  the  ground  and  gave  a  loud  neigh  of  joy  that  shook  the 
walls  of  the  cavern.  Thus  amply  provided  with  "  horse  and 
rider  and  weapon  to  wear,"  the  prince  determined  to  defy  the 
field  in  the  impending  tourney. 

The  eventful  morning  arrived.  The  lists  for  the  combat 
were  prepared  in  the  Vega,  or  plain,  just  below  the  cliff- built 
walls  of  Toledo,  where  stages  and  galleries  were  erected  for 
the  spectators,  covered  with  rich  tapestry,  and  sheltered  from 
the  sun  by  silken  awnings.  All  the  beauties  of  the  land  were 
assembled  in  those  galleries,  while  below  pranced  plumed  knights 
with  their  pages  and  esquires,  among  whom  figured  conspicuously 
the  princes  who  were  to  contend  in  the  tourney.  All  the  beauties 
of  the  land,  however,  were  eclipsed  when  the  Princess  Aldegonda 
appeared  in  the  royal  pavilion,  and  for  the  first  time  broke 
forth  upon  the  gaze  of  an  admiring  world.  A  murmur  of 
wonder  ran  through  the  crowd  at  her  transcendent  loveliness ; 
and  the  princes  who  were  candidates  for  her  liand,  merely  on 
the  faith  of  her  reported  charms,  now  felt  tenfold  ardor  for  the 
conflict. 

The  princess,  however,  had  a  troubled  look.  The  color  came 
and  went  from  her  cheek,  and  her  eye  wandered  with  a  restless 
and  unsatisfied  expression  over  the  plumed  throng  of  knights. 
The  trumpets  were  about  sounding  for  the  encounter,  when  the 
herald  announced  the  arrival  of  a  strange  knight;  and  Ahmed 
rode  into  the  field.  A  steel  helmet  studded  with  gems  rose 
above  his  turban;  his'  cuirass  was  embossed  with  gold;  his 
cimeter  and  dagger  were  of  the  workmanship  of  Fez,  and  flamed 
with  precious  stones.  A  round  shield  was  at  his  shoulder,  and 
in  his  hand  he  bore  the  lance  of  charmed  virtue.  The  cax>ari- 
son  of  his  Arabian  steed  was  richly  embroidered  and  swept  the 
ground,  and  the  proud  animal  pranced  and  snuffed  the  air,  and 


ENCHANTED    ARMOR  185 

neighed  with  joy  at  once  more  beholding  the  array  of  arms. 
The  lofty  and  graceful  demeanor  of  the  prince  struck  every  eye, 
and  when  his  appellation  was  announced,  "  The  Pilgrim  of  Love," 
a  universal  flutter  and  agitation  prevailed  among  the  fair  dames 
in  the  galleries. 

When  Ahmed  presented  himself  at  the  lists,  however,  they 
were  closed  against  him :  none  but  princes,  he  was  told,  were 
admitted  to  the  contest.  He  declared  his  name  and  rank.  Still 
worse  !  —  he  was  a  Moslem,  and  could  not  engage  in  a  tourney 
where  the  hand  of  a  Christian  princess  was  the  prize. 

The  rival  princes  surrounded  him  with  haughty  and  menacing 
aspects ;  and  one  of  insolent  demeanor  and  herculean  frame 
sneered  at  his  light  and  youthful  form,  and  scoffed  at  his  amor 
ous  appellation.  The  ire  of  the  prince  was  roused.  He  defied 
his  rival  to  the  encounter.  They  took  distance,  wheeled,  and 
charged ;  and  at  the  first  touch  of  the  magic  lance,  the  brawny 
scoffer  was  tilted  from  his  saddle.  Here  the  prince  would  have 
paused,  but,  alas  !  he  had  to  deal  with  a  demoniac  horse  and 
armor  ;  once  in  action,  nothing  could  control  them.  The  Ara 
bian  steed  charged  into  the  thickest  of  the  throng ;  the  lance 
overturned  everything  that  presented;  the  gentle  prince  was 
carried  pell-mell  about  the  field,  strewing  it  with  high  and  low, 
gentle  and  simple,  and  grieving  at  his  own  involuntary  exploits. 
The  king  stormed  and  raged  at  this  outrage  on  his  subjects  and 
his  guests.  He  ordered  out  all  his  guards  —  they  were  un 
horsed  as  fast  as  they  came  up.  The  king  threw  off  his  robes, 
grasped  buckler  and  lance,  and  rode  forth  to  awe  the  stranger 
with  the  presence  of  majesty  itself.  Alas !  majesty  fared  no  \  • 
better  than  the  vulgar ;  the  steel  and  lance  were  no  respecters 
of  persons ;  to  the  dismay  of  Ahmed,  he  was  borne  full  tilt 
against  the  king,  and  in  a  moment  the  royal  heels  were  in  the 
air,  and  the  crown  was  rolling  in  the  dust. 

At  this  moment  the  sun  reached  the  meridian ;  the  magic 
spell  resumed  its  power ;  the  Arabian  steed  scoured  across  the 


186  THE    ALHAMBRA 

plain,  leaped  the  barrier,  plunged  into  the  Tagus,  swam  its  raging 
current,  bore  the  prince  breathless  and  amazed  to  the  cavern, 
and  resumed,  his  station,  like  a  statue,  beside  the  iron  table. 
The  prince  dismounted  right  gladly,  and  replaced  the  armor,  to 
abide  the  further  decrees  of  fate.  Then  seating  himself  in  the 
cavern,  he  ruminated  on  the  desperate  state  to  which  this  de 
moniac  steed  and  armor  had  reduced  him.  Never  should  he 
dare  to  show  his  face  at  Toledo  after  inflicting  such  disgrace 
upon  its  chivalry,  and  such  an  outrage  on  its  king.  What  too 
would  the  princess  think  of  so  rude  and  riotous  an  achievement  1 
Full  of  anxiety,  he  sent  forth  his  winged  messengers  to  gather 
tidings.  The  parrot  resorted  to  all  the  public  places  and  crowded 
resorts  of  the  city,  and  soon  returned  with  a  world  of  gossip. 
All  Toledo  was  in  consternation.  The  princess  had  been  borne 
off  senseless  to  the  palace  ;  the  tournament  had  ended  in  con 
fusion  ;  every  one  was  talking  of  the  sudden  apparition,  prodig 
ious  exploits,  and  strange  disappearance  of  the  Moslem  knight. 
Some  pronounced  him  a  Moorish  magician ;  others  thought  him 
a  demon  who  had  assumed  a  human  shape,  while  others  related 
traditions  of  enchanted  warriors  hidden  in  the  caves  of  the  moun 
tains,  and  thought  it  might  be  one  of  these,  who  had  made  a 
sudden  irruption  from  his  den.  All  agreed  that  no  mere  ordi 
nary  mortal  could  have  wrought  such  wonders,  or  unhorsed  such 
accomplished  and  stalwart  Christian  warriors. 

The  owl  flew  forth  at  night  and  ho'vered  about  the  dusky 
city,  perching  on  the  roofs  and  chimneys.  He  then  wheeled  his 
flight  up  to  the  royal  palace,  which  stood  on  a  rocky  summit  of 
Toledo,  and  went  prowling  about  its  terraces  and  battlements, 
eavesdropping  at  every  cranny,  and  glaring  in  with  his  big  gog 
gling  eyes  at  every  window  where  there  was  a  light,  so  as  to 
throw  two  or  three  maids  of  honor  into  fits.  It  was  not  until 
the  gray  dawn  began  to  peer  above  the  mountains  that  he  re 
turned  from  his  mousing  expedition,  and  related  to  the  prince 
what  he  had  seen. 


THE  REPORT  OF  THE  PARROT        187 

"  As  I  was  prying  about  one  of  the  loftiest  towers  of  the  pal 
ace,"  said  he,  "I  beheld  through  a  casement  a  beautiful  princess. 
She  was  reclining  on  a  couch  with  attendants  and  physicians 
around  her,  but  she  would  none  of  their  ministry  and  relief. 
When  they  retired,  I  beheld  her  draw  forth  a  letter  from  her 
bosom,  and  read  and  kiss  it,  and  give  way  to  loud  lamentations ; 
at  which,  philosopher  as  I  am,  I  could  but  be  greatly  moved." 

The  tender  heart  of  Ahmed  was  distressed  at  these  tidings. 
"Too  true  were  thy  words,  0  sage  Eben  Bonabben,"  cried  he; 
"care  and  sorrow  and  sleepless  nights  are  the  lot  of  lovers. 
Allah  preserve  the  princess  from  the  blighting  influence  of  this 
thing  called  love  ! " 

Further  intelligence  from  Toledo  corroborated  the  report  of 
the  owl.  The  city  was  a  prey  to  uneasiness  and  alarm.  The 
princess  was  conveyed  to  the  highest  tower  of  the  palace,  every 
avenue  to  which  was  strongly  guarded.  In  the  meantime  a  de 
vouring  melancholy  had  seized  upon  her,  of  which  no  one  could 
divine  the  cause  —  she  refused  food  and  turned  a  deaf  ear  to 
every  consolation.  The  most  skilful  physicians  had  essayed  their 
art  in  vain ;  it  was  thought  some  magic  spell  had  been  practised 
upon  her,  and  the  king  made  proclamation,  declaring  that  who 
ever  should  effect  her  cure  should  receive  the  richest  jewel  in 
the  royal  treasury. 

When  the  owl,  who  was  dozing  in  a  corner,  heard  of  this 
proclamation,  he  rolled  his  large  eyes  and  looked  more  myste 
rious  than  ever. 

"Allah  Akbar!"  exclaimed  he,  "happy  the  man  that  shall 
effect  that  cure,  should  he  but  know  what  to  choose  from  the 
royal  treasury." 

"What  mean  you,  most  reverend  owl?"  said  Ahmed. 

-  "  Hearken,  0  prince,  to  what  I  shall  relate.     We  owls,  you 

must  know,  are  a  learned  body,  and  much  given  to  dark  and 

dusty  research.     During  my  late  prowling  at  night  about  the 

domes  and  turrets  of  Toledo,  I  discovered  a  college  of  anti- 


188  THE    ALHAMBHA 

quartan  owls,  who  hold  their  meetings  in  a  great  vaulted  tower 
where  the  royal  treasury  is  deposited.  Here  they  were  discuss 
ing  the  forms  and  inscriptions  and  designs  of  ancient  gems  and 
jewels,  and  of  golden  and  silver  vessels,  heaped  up  in  the  treas 
ury,  the  fashion  of  every  country  and  age;  but  mostly  they 
were  interested  about  certain  relics  and  talismans  that  have 
remained  in  the  treasury  since  the  time  of  Roderick  the  Goth. 
Among  these  was  a  box  of  sandal- wood  secured  by  bands  of 
steel  of  Oriental  workmanship,  and  inscribed  with  mystic  char 
acters  known  only  to  the  learned  few.  This  box  and  its  inscrip 
tion  had  occupied  the  college  for  several  sessions,  and  had 
caused  much  long  and  grave  dispute.  At  the  time  of  my 
visit  a  very  ancient  owl,  who  had  recently  arrived  from  Egypt, 
was  seated  on  the  lid  of  the  box,  lecturing  upon  the  inscrip 
tion,  and  he  proved  from  it  that  the  coffer  contained  the  silken 
carpet  of  the  throne  of  Solomon  the  Wise ;  which  doubtless  had 
been  brought  to  Toledo  by  the  Jews  who  took  refuge  there  after 
the  downfall  of  Jerusalem." 

When  the  owl  had  concluded  his  antiquarian  harangue,  the 
prince  remained  for  a  time  absorbed  in  thought.  "  I  have 
heard,"  said  he,  "from  the  sage  Eben  Bonabben,  of  the  wonder- 
full  properties  of  that  talisman,  which  disappeared  at  the  fall  of 
Jerusalem,  and  was  supposed  to  be  lost  to  mankind.  Doubt 
less  it  remains  a  sealed  mystery  to  the  Christians  of  Toledo. 
If  I  can  get  possession  of  that  carpet,  my  fortune  is  secure." 

The  next  day  the  prince  laid  aside  his  rich  attire,  and 
arrayed  himself  in  the  simple  garb  of  an  Arab  of  the  desert. 
He  dyed  his  complexion  to  a  tawny  hue,  and  no  one  could  have 
recognized  in  him  the  splendid  warrior  who  had  caused  such 
admiration  and  dismay  at  the  tournament.  With  staff  in  hand, 
and  scrip  by  his  side,  and  a  small  pastoral  reed,  he  repaired  to 
Toledo,  and  presenting  himself  at  the  gate  of  the  royal  palace,  an 
nounced  himself  as  a  candidate  for  the  reward  offered  for  the  cure 
of  the  princess.  The  guards  would  have  driven  him  away  with 


THE    POWER    OF    MUSIC  189 

blows.  "  What  can  a  vagrant  Arab  like  thyself  pretend  to  do," 
said  they,  "  in  a  case  where  the  most  learned  of  the  land  have 
failed  ? "  The  king,  however,  overheard  the  tumult,  and  ordered 
the  Arab  to  be  brought  into  his  presence. 

"Most  potent  king,"  said  Ahmed,  "you  behold  before  you  a 
Bedouin  Arab,  the  greater  part  of  whose  life  has  been  passed 
in  the  solitudes  of  the  desert.  These  solitudes,  it  is  well 
known,  are  the  haunts  of  demons  and  evil  spirits,  who  beset  us 
poor  shepherds  in  our  lonely  watchings,  enter  into  and  possess 
our  flocks  and  herds,  and  sometimes  render  even  the  patient 
camel  furious ;  against  these,  our  counter-charm  is  music ;  and 
we  have  legendary  airs  handed  down  from  generation  to  genera 
tion,  that  we  chant  and  pipe,  to  cast  forth  these  evil  spirits. 
I  am  of  a  gifted  line,  and  possess  this  power  in  its  fullest  force. 
If  it  be  any  evil  influence  of  the  kind  that  holds  a  spell  over 
thy  daughter,  I  pledge  my  head  to  free  her  from  its  sway." 

The  king,  who  was  a  man  of  understanding,  and  knew  the 
wonderful  secrets  possessed  by  the  Arabs,  was  inspired  with 
hope  by  the  confident  language  of  the  prince.  He  conducted 
him  immediately  to  the  lofty  tower,  secured  by  several  doors,  in 
the  summit  of  which  was  the  chamber  of  the  princess.  The 
windows  opened  upon  a  terrace  with  balustrades,  commanding  a 
view  over  Toledo  and  all  the  surrounding  country.  The  win 
dows  were  darkened,  for  the  princess  lay  within,  a  prey  to  a 
devouring  grief  that  refused  all  alleviation. 

The  prince  seated  himself  on  a  terrace,  and  performed  several 
wild  Arabian  airs  on  his  pastoral  pipe,  which  he  had  learnt 
from  his  attendants  in  the  Generalise  at  Granada.  The  prin 
cess  continued  insensible,  and  the  doctors  who  were  present 
shook  their  heads,  and  smiled  with  incredulity  and  contempt : 
at  length  the  prince  laid  aside  the  reed,  and,  to  a  simple  melody, 
chanted  the  amatory  verses  of  the  letter  which  had  declared  his 
passion. 

The  princess  recognized  the  strain  —  a  fluttering  joy  stole  to 


190  THE    ALHAMBRA 

her  heart ;  she  raised  her  head  and  listened ;  tears  rushed  to 
her  eyes  and  streamed  down  her  cheeks ;  her  bosom  rose  and 
fell  with  a  tumult  of  emotions.  She  would  have  asked  for  the 
minstrel  to  be  brought  into  her  presence,  but  maiden  coyness 
held  her  silent.  The  king  read  her  wishes,  and  at  his  command 
Ahmed  was  conducted  into  the  chamber.  The  lovers  were  dis 
creet  :  they  but  exchanged  glances,  yet  those  glances  spoke 
volumes.  Never  was  triumph  of  music  more  complete.  The 
rose  had  returned  to  the  soft  cheek  of  the  princess,  the  fresh 
ness  to  her  lip,  and  the  dewy  light  to  her  languishing  eyes. 

All  the  physicians  present  stared  at  each  other  with  astonish 
ment.  The  king  regarded  the  Arab  minstrel  with  admiration 
mixed  with  awe.  "Wonderful  youth  !"  exclaimed  he,  "thou 
shalt  henceforth  be  the  first  physician  of  my  court,  and  no 
other  prescription  will  I  take  but  thy  melody.  For  the  present 
receive  thy  reward,  the  most  precious  jewel  in  my  treasury." 

"0  king,"  replied  Ahmed,  "I  care  not  for  silver  or  gold  or 
precious  stones.  One  relic  hast  thou  in  thy  treasury,  handed 
down  from  the  Moslems,  who  once  owned  Toledo  —  a  box  of 
sandal-wood  containing  a  silken  carpet :  give  me  that  box,  and 
I  am  content." 

All  present  were  surprised  at  the  moderation  of  the  Arab, 
and  still  more  when  the  box  of  sandal-wood  was  brought  and 
the  carpet  drawn  forth.  It  was  of  fine  green  silk,  covered  with 
Hebrew  and  Chaldaic  characters.  The  court  physicians  looked 
at  each  other,  shrugged  their  shoulders,  and  smiled  at  the 
simplicity  of  this  new  practitioner,  who  could  be  content  with  so 
paltry  a  fee. 

"  This  carpet,"  said  the  prince,  "  once  covered  the  throne  of 
Solomon  the  Wise;  it  is  worthy  of  being  placed  beneath  the 
feet  of  beauty." 

So  saying,  he  spread  it  on  the  terrace  beneath  an  ottoman 
that  had  been  brought  forth  for  the  princess ;  then  seating  him 
self  at  her  feet  — 


THE    CARPET    OF    SOLOMON  191 

"Who,"  said  he,  "shall  counteract  what  is  written  in  the 
book  of  fate  ?  Behold  the  prediction  of  the  astrologers  verified. 
Know,  0  king,  that  your  daughter  and  I  have  long  loved  each 
other  in  secret.  Behold  in  me  the  Pilgrim  of  Love  !  " 

These  words  were  scarcely  from  his  lips  when  the  carpet 
rose  in  the  air,  bearing  off  the  prince  and  princess.  The  king 
and  the  physicians  gazed  after  it  with  open  mouths  and  strain 
ing  eyes  until  it  became  a  little  speck  on  the  white  bosom  of  a 
cloud,  and  then  disappeared  in  the  blue  vault  of  heaven. 

The  king  in  a  rage  summoned  his  treasurer.  "  How  is  this," 
said  he,  "that  thou  hast  suffered  an  infidel  to  get  possession  of 
such  a  talisman  ? " 

"  Alas,  sir,  we  knew  not  its  nature,  nor  could  we  decipher 
the  inscription  of  the  box.  If  it  be  indeed  the  carpet  of  the 
throne  of  the  wise  Solomon,  it  is  possessed  of  magic  power, 
and  can  transport  its  owner  from  place  to  place  through  the 
air." 

The  king  assembled  a  mighty  army,  and  set  off  for  Granada 
in  pursuit  of  the  fugitives.  His  march  was  long  and  toilsome. 
Encamping  in  the  Vega,  he  sent  a  herald  to  demand  restitu 
tion  of  his  daughter.  The  king  himself  came  forth  with  all  his 
court  to  meet  him.  In  the  king  he  beheld  the  real  minstrel, 
for  Ahmed  had  succeeded  to  the  throne  on  the  death  of  his 
father,  and  the  beautiful  Aldegonda  was  his  sultana. 

The  Christian  king  was  easily  pacified  when  he  found  that 
his  daughter  was  suffered  to  continue  in  her  faith  ;  not  that  he 
was  particularly  pious,  but  religion  is  always  a  point  of  pride 
and  etiquette  with  princes.  Instead  of  bloody  battles,  there 
was  a  succession  of  feasts  and  rejoicings,  after  which  the  king 
returned  well  pleased  to  Toledo,  and  the  youthful  couple  con 
tinued  to  reign  as  happily  as  wisely,  in  the  Alhambra. 

It  is  proper  to  add,  that  the  owl  and  the  parrot  had  severally 
followed  the  prince  by  easy  stages  to  Granada ;  the  former  trav 
elling  by  night,  and  stopping  at  the  various  hereditary  posses- 


192  THE    ALHAMBRA 

sious  of  his  family ;  the  latter  figuring  in  gay  circles  of  every 
town  and  city  on  his  route. 

Ahmed  gratefully  requited  the  services  which  they  had  ren 
dered  on  his  "pilgrimage.  He  appointed  the  owl  his  prime  min 
ister,  the  parrot  his  master  of  ceremonies.  It  is  needless  to  say 
that  never  was  a  realm  more  sagely  administered,  nor  a  court 
conducted  with  more  exact  punctilio. 


A  RAMBLE  AMONG  THE  HILLS 

I  USED  frequently  to  amuse  myself  towards  the  close  of  the 
day,  when  the  heat  had  subsided,  with  taking  long  rambles 
about  the  neighboring  hills,  and  the  deep  umbrageous  valleys, 
accompanied  by  my  historiographic_  squire,  Mateo,  to  whose 
passion  for  gossiping  I  on  such  occasions  gave  the  most  un 
bounded  license ;  and  there  was  scarce  a  rock,  or  ruin,  or 
broken  fountain,  or  lonely  glen,  about  which  he  had  not  some 
marvellous  story  ;  or,  above  all,  some  golden  legend  ;  for  never 
was  poor  devil  so  munificent  in  dispensing  hidden  treasures. 

In  the  course  of  one  of  these  strolls  Mateo  was  more  than  usu 
ally  communicative.  It  was  towards  sunset  that  we  sallied  forth 
from  the  great  Gate  of  Justice,  and  ascended  an  alley  of  trees 
until  we  came  to  a  clump  of  figs  and  pomegranates  at  the  foot 
of  the  Tower  of  the  Seven  Floors  (de  los  sie'te  suelos),  the  iden 
tical  tower  whence  Boabdil  is  said  to  have  issued,  when  he  sur 
rendered  his  capital.  Here,  pointing  to  a  lo.vv  archway  in  the 
foundation,  Mateo  informed  me  of  a  monstrous  sprite  or  hob 
goblin,  said  to  infest  this  tower,  ever  since  the  time  of  the 
Moors,  and  to  guard  the  treasures  of  a  Moslem  king.  Some 
times  it  issues  forth  in  the  dead  .of  the  night,  and  scours  the 
avenues  of  the  Alhambra,  and  the  streets  of  Granada,  in  the 
shape  of  a  headless  horse,  pursued  by  six  dogs  with  terrible 
yells  and  howlings. 


THE   RAVINE    OF    THE    JAR  193 

"  But  have  you  ever  met  with  it  yourself,  Mateo,  in  any  of 
your  rambles  ?  "  demanded  I. 

"  No,  Senor,  God  be  thanked  !  but  my  grandfather,  the 
tailor,  knew  several  persons  that  had  seen  it,  for  it  went  about 
much  oftener  in  his  time  than  at  present ;  sometimes  in  one 
shape,  sometimes  in  another.  Everybody  in  Granada  has  heard 
of  the  Belludo,  for  the  old  women  and  the  nurses  frighten  the 
children  with  it  when  they  cry.  Some  say  it  is  the  spirit  of  a 
cruel  Moorish  king,  who  killed  his  six  sons  and  buried  them  in 
these  vaults,  and  that  they  hunt  him  at  nights  in  revenge." 

I  forbear  to  dwell  upon  the  marvellous  details  given  by  the 
simple-minded  Mateo  about  this  redoubtable  phantom,  which  has, 
in  fact  been  time  out  of  mind  a  favorite  theme  of  nursery  tales 
and  popular  tradition  in  Granada,  and  of  which  honorable  men 
tion  is  made  by  an  ancient  and  learned  historian  and  topographer 
of  the  place. 

Leaving  this  eventful  pile,  wre  continued  our  course,  skirting 
the  fruitful  orchards  of  the  Generalife,  in  which  two  or  three 
nightingales  were  pouring  forth  a  rich  strain  of  melody.  Be 
hind  these  orchards  we  passed  a  number  of  Moorish  tanks, 
with  a  door  cut  into  the  rocky  bosom  of  the  hill,  but  closed  up. 
These  tanks,  Mateo  informed  me,  were  favorite  bathing-places 
of  himself  and  his  comrades  in  boyhood,  until  frightened  away 
by  a  story  of  a  hideous  Moor,  who  used  to  issue  forth  from  the 
door  in  the  rock  to  entrap  unwary  bathers. 

Leaving  these  haunted  tanks  behind  us,  we  pursued  our 
ramble  up  a  solitary  mule-path  winding  among  the  hills,  and 
soon  found  ourselves  amidst  wild  and  melancholy  mountains, 
destitute  of  trees,  and  here  and  there  tinted  with  scanty  verdure. 
Everything  within  sight  was  severe  and  sterile,  and  it  was 
scarcely  possible  to  realize  the  idea  that  but  a  short  distance 
behind  us  was  the  Generalife,  with  its  blooming  orchards  and 
terraced  gardens,  and  that  we  were  in  the  vicinity  of  delicious 
Granada,  that  city  of  groves  and  fountains.  But  such  is  the 


194  THE    ALHAMBRA 

nature  of  Spain ;  wild  and  stern  the  moment  it  escapes  from 
cultivation ;  the  desert  and  the  garden  are  ever  side  by  side. 

The  narrow  defile  up  which  we  were  passing  is  called,  accord 
ing  to  Mateo,  el  Barranco  de  la  tinaja,  or  the  ravine  of  the 
jar,  because  a  jar  full  of  Moorish  gold  was  found  here  in  old 
times.  The  brain  of  poor  Mateo  was  continually  running  upon 
these  golden  legends. 

"  But  what  is  the  meaning  of  the  cross  I  see  yonder  upon  a 
heap  of  stones,  in  that  narrow  part  of  the  ravine  ? " 

"Oh,  that's  nothing  —  a  muleteer  was  murdered  there  some 
years  since." 

"So  then,  Mateo,  you  have  robbers  and  murderers  even  at 
the  gates  of  the  Alhambra  ? " 

"Not  at  present,  Seiior;  that  was  formerly,  when  there  used 
to  be  many  loose  fellows  about  the  fortress;  but  they've  all 
been  weeded  out.  Not  but  that  the  gipsies  who  live  in  caves 
in  the  hill-sides,  just  out  of  the  fortress,  are  many  of  them  fit 
for  anything ;  but  we  have  had  no  murder  about  here  for  a  long 
time  past.  The  man  who  murdered  the  muleteer  was  hanged 
in  the  fortress." 

Our  path  continued  up  the  barranco,  with  a  bold,  rugged 
height  to  our  left,  called  the  "  Silla  del  Moro,"  or  Chair  of  the 
Moor,  from  the  tradition  already  alluded  to,  that  the  unfortunate 
Boabdil  fled  thither  during  a  popular  insurrection,  and  remained 
all  day  seated  on  the  rocky  summit,  looking  mournfully  down 
on  his  factious  city. 

We  at  length  arrived  on  the  highest  part  of  the  promontory 
above  Granada,  called  the  mountain  of  the  sun.  The  evening 
was  approaching;  the  setting  sun  just  gilded  the  loftiest  heights 
Here  and  there  a  solitary  shepherd  might  be  descried  driving 
his  flock  clown  the  declivities,  to  be  folded  for  the  night;  or 
a  muleteer  and  his  lagging  animals,  threading  some  mountain 
path  to  arrive  at  the  city  gates  before  nightfall. 

Presently  the  deep  tones  of  the  Cathedral  bell  came  swelling 


SUBTERRANEAN    CAVERNS  195 

up  the  defiles,  proclaiming  the  hour  of  "  oration "  or  prayer. 
The  note  was  responded  to  from  the  belfry  of  every  church,  and 
from  the  sweet  bells  of  the  convents  among  the  mountains. 
The  shepherd  paused  on  the  fold  of  the  hill,  the  muleteer  in 
the  midst  of  the  road;  each  took  off  his  hat  and  remained 
motionless  for  a  time,  murmuring  his  evening  prayer.  There 
is  always  something  pleasingly  solemn  in  this  custom,  by  which, 
at  a  melodious  signal,  every  human  being  throughout  the  land 
unites  at  the  same  moment  in  a  tribute  of  thanks  to  God  for 
the  mercies  of  the  day.  It  spreads  a  transient  sanctity  over 
the  land,  and  the  sight  of  the  sun  sinking  in  all  his  glory  adds 
not  a  little  to  the  solemnity  of  the  scene. 

In  the  present  instance  the  effect  was  heightened  by  the  wild 
and  lonely  nature  of  the  place.  We  were  on  the  naked  and 
broken  summit  of  the  haunted  mountain  of  the  sun,  where 
ruined  tanks  and  cisterns,  and  the  mouldering  foundations  of 
extensive  buildings,  spoke  of  former  populousness,  but  where 
all  was  now  silent  and  desolate. 

As  we  were  wandering  about  among  these  traces  of  old  times, 
we  came  to  a  circular  pit,  penetrating  deep  into  the  bosom  of 
the  mountain ;  which  Mateo  pointed  out  as  one  of  the  wonders 
and  mysteries  of  the  place.  I  supposed  it  to  be  a  well  dug  by 
the  indefatigable  Moors,  to  obtain  their  favorite  element  in  its 
greatest  purity.  Mateo,  however,  had  a  different  story,  and 
one  much  more  to  his  humor.  According  to  a  tradition,  in 
which  his  father  and  grandfather  firmly  believed,  this  was  an 
entrance  to  the  subterranean  caverns  of  the  mountain,  in  which 
Boabdil  and  his  court  lay  bound  in  magic  spell;  and  whence 
they  sallied  forth  at  night,  at  allotted  times,  to  revisit  their 
ancient  abodes. 

"Ah,  Seiior,  this  mountain  is  full  of  wonders  of  the  kind. 
In  another  place  there  was  a  hole  somewhat  like  this,  and  just 
within  it  hung  an  iron  pot  by  a  chain;  nobody  knew  what  was 
in  that  pot,  for  it  was  always  covered  up;  but  everybody  sup- 


196  THE    ALHAMBRA 

posed  it  full  of  Moorish  gold.  Many  tried  to  draw  it  forth,  for 
it  seemed  just  within  reach;  but  the  moment  it  was  touched  it 
would  sink  far,  far  down,  and  not  come  up  again  for  some  time. 
At  last  one  who  thought  it  must  be  enchanted  touched  it  with 
the  cross,  by  way  of  breaking  the  charm;  and  faith  he  did 
break  it,  for  the  pot  sank  out  of  sight  and  never  was  seen  any 
more. 

"All  this  is  fact,  Seiior;  for  my  grandfather  was  an  eye 
witness." 

"What!  Mateo;  did  he  see  the  pot?" 

"No,  Senor,  but  he  saw  the  hole  where  the  pot  had  hung." 

"It's  the  same  thing,  Mateo." 

The  deepening  twilight,  which  in  this  climate  is  of  short 
duration,  admonished  us  to  leave  this  haunted  ground.  As  we 
descended  the  mountain  defile,  there  was  no  longer  herdsman 
nor  muleteer  to  be  seen,  nor  anything  to  be  heard  bu£  our  own 
footsteps  and  the  lonely  chirping  of  the  cricket.  The  shadows 
of  the  valley  grew  deeper  and  deeper,  until  all  was  dark  around 
us.  The  lofty  summit  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  alone  retained  a 
lingering  gleam  of  daylight;  its  snowy  peaks  glaring  against 
the  dark  blue  firmament,  and  seeming  close  to  us,  from  the 
extreme  purity  of  the  atmosphere. 

"  How  near  the  Sierra  looks  this  evening ! "  said  Mateo ; 
"  it  seems  as  if  you  could  touch  it  with  your  hand ;  and  yet  it 
is  many  long  leagues  off."  While  he  was  speaking,  a  star 
appeared  over  the  snowy  summit  of  the  mountain,  the  only  one 
yet  visible  in  the  heavens,  and  so  pure,  so  large,  so  bright  and 
beautiful,  as  to  call  forth  ejaculations  of  delight  from  honest 
Mateo. 

"  Que  estrella  hermosa  !  que  clara  y  limpid  es  / —  No  pueda 
ser  estrella  mas  brillante  !  " 

(What  a  beautiful  star  !  how  clear  and  lucid  —  a  star  could 
not  be  more  brilliant !) 

I  have  often  remarked  this  sensibility  of  the  common  people 


LIGHTS    ON    THE    MOUNTAIN  197 

of  Spain  to  the  charms  of  natural  objects.  The  lustre  of  a 
star,  the  beauty  or  fragrance  of  a  flower,  the  crystal  purity  of 
a  fountain,  will  inspire  them  with  a  kind  of  poetical  delight ; 
and  then,  what  euphonious  words  their  magnificent  language 
affords,  with  which  to  give  utterance  to  their  transports ! 

"  But  what  lights  are  those,  Mateo,  which  I  see  twinkling 
along  the  Sierra  Nevada,  just  below  the  snowy  region,  and 
which  might  be  taken  for  stars,  only  that  they  are  ruddy,  and 
against  the  dark  side  of  the  mountain  ? " 

"  Those,  Senor,  are  fires,  made  by  the  men  who  gather  snow 
and  ice  for  the  supply  of  Granada.  They  go  up  every  after 
noon  with  mules  and  asses,  and  take  turns,  some  to  rest  and 
warm  themselves  by  the  fires,  while  others  fill  the  panniers 
with  ice.  They  then  set  off  down  the  mountains,  so  as  to 
reach  the  gates  of  Granada  before  sunrise.  That  Sierra  Ne 
vada,  Senor,  is  a  lump  of  ice  in  the  middle  of  Andalusia,  to 
keep  it  all  cool  in  summer." 

It  was  now  completely  dark ;  we  were  passing  through  the 
barranco,  where  stood  the  cross  of  the  murdered  muleteer,  when 
I  beheld  a  number  of  lights  moving  at  a  distance,  and  appar 
ently  advancing  up  the  ravine.  On  nearer  approach,  they 
proved  to  be  torches  borne  by  a  train  of  uncouth  figures  ar 
rayed  in  black :  it  would  have  been  a  procession  dreary 
enough  at  any  time,  but  was  peculiarly  so  in  this  wild  and 
solitary  place. 

Mateo  drew  near,  and  told  me,  in  a  low  voice,  that  it  was  a 
funeral  train  bearing  a  corpse  to  the  burying-ground  among  the 
hills. 

As  the  procession  passed  by,  the  lugubrious  light  of  the 
torches,  falling  on  the  rugged  features  and  funeral  weeds  of  the 
attendants,  had  the  most  fantastic  effect,  but  was  perfectly 
ghastly,  as  it  revealed  the  countenance  of  the  corpse,  which, 
according  to  the  Spanish  custom,  was  borne  uncovered  on  an 
open  bier.  I  remained  for  some  time  gazing  after  the  dreary 


198  THE    ALHAMBRA 

train  as  it  wound  up  the  dark  defile  of  the  mountain.  It  put 
me  in  mind  of  the  old  story  of  a  procession  of  demons  bearing 
the  body  of  a  sinner  up  the  crater  of  Stromboli. 

"  Ah  !  Senor,"  cried  Mateo,  "  I  could  tell  you  a  story  of  a 
procession  once  seen  among  these  mountains,  but  then  you'd 
laugh  at  me,  and  say  it  was  one  of  the  legacies  of  my  grand 
father  the  tailor." 

"By  no  means,  Mateo.  There  is  nothing  I  relish  more  than 
a -marvellous  tale." 

"  Well,  Senor,  it  is  about  one  of  those  very  men  we  have 
been  talking  of,  who  gather  snow  on  the  Sierra  Nevada. 

"  You  must  know,  that  a  great  many  years  since,  in  my 
grandfather's  time,  there  was  an  old  fellow,  Tio  Nicolo  (Uncle 
Nicholas)  by  name,  who  had  filled  the  panniers  of  his  mule 
with  snow  and  ice,  and  was  returning  down  the  mountain. 
Being  very  drowsy,  he  mounted  upon  the  mule,  and  soon  fall 
ing  asleep,  went  with  his  head  nodding  and  bobbing  about 
from  side  to  side,  while  his  sure-footed  old  mule  stepped  along 
the  edge  of  precipices,  and  down  steep  and  broken  barrancos, 
just  as  safe  and  steady  as  if  it  had  been  on  plain  ground.  At 
length  Tio  Meolo  awoke,  and  gazed  about  him,  and  rubbed  his 
eyes  —  and,  in  good  truth,  he  had  reason.  The  moon  shone 
almost  as  bright  as  day,  and  he  saw  the  city  below  him,  as 
plain  as  your  hand,  and  shining  with  its  white  buildings,  like  a 
silver  platter,  in  the  moonshine ;  but,  Lord !  Senor,  it  was 
nothing  like  the  city  he  had  left  a  few  hours  before  !  Instead 
of  the  cathedral,  with  its  great  dome  and  turrets,  and  the 
churches  with  their  spires,  and  the  convents  with  their  pinna 
cles,  all  surmounted  with  the  blessed  cross,  he  saw  nothing 
but  Moorish  mosques,  and  minarets,  and  cupolas,  all  topped 
off  with  glittering  crescents,  such  as  you  see  on  the  Barbary 
flags.  Well,  Senor,  as  you  may  suppose,  Tio  Nicolo  was 
mightily  puzzled  at  all  this,  but  while  he  was  gazing  down 
upon  the  city,  a  great  army  came  marching  up  the  mountains, 


THE    PHANTOM   ARMY  199 

winding  along  the  ravines,  sometimes  in  the  moonshine,  some 
times  in  the  shade.  As  it  drew  nigh,  he  saw  that  there  were 
horse  and  foot,  all  in  Moorish  armor.  Tio  Nicolo  tried  to 
scramble  out  of  their  way,  but  his  old  mule  stood  stock  still, 
and  refused  to  budge,  trembling,  at  the  same  time,  like  a  leaf, 
—  for  dumb  beasts,  Senor,  are  just  as  much  frightened  at  such 
things  as  human  beings.  Well,  Senor,  the  hobgoblin  army 
came  marching  by ;  there  were  men  that  seemed  to  blow  trum 
pets,  and  others  to  beats  drums  and  strike  cymbals,  yet  never 
a  sound  did  they  make ;  they  all  moved  on  without  the  least 
noise,  just  as  I  have  seen  painted  armies  move  across  the  stage 
in  the  theatre  of  Granada,  and  all  looked  as  pale  as  death.  At 
last,  in  the  rear  of  the  army,  between  two  black  Moorish  horse 
men,  rode  the  Grand  Inquisitor  of  Granada,  on  a  mule  as  white 
as  snow.  Tio  Mcolo  wondered  to  see  him  in  such  company, 
for  the  Inquisitor  was  famous  for  his  hatred  of  Moors,  and, 
indeed,  of  all  kinds  of  Infidels,  Jews,  and  heretics,  and  used  to 
hunt  them  out  with  fire  and  scourge.  However,  Tio  Nicolo 
felt  himself  safe,  now  that  there  was  a  priest  of  such  sanctity 
at  hand.  So  making  the  sign  of  the  cross,  he  called  out  for 
his  benediction,  when,  hombre  !  he  received  a  blow  that  sent 
him  and  his  old  mule  over  the  edge  of  a  steep  bank,  down 
which  they  rolled,  head-over-heels,  to  the  bottom  !  Tio  Nicolo 
did  not  come  to  his  senses  until  long  after  sunrise,  when  he 
found  himself  at  the  bottom  of  a  deep  ravine,  his  mule  grazing 
beside  him,  and  his  panniers  of  snow  completely  melted.  He 
crawled  back  to  Granada  sorely  bruised  and  battered,  but  was 
glad  to  find  the  city  looking  as  usual,  with  Christian  churches 
and  crosses.  When  he  told  the  story  of  his  night's  adventure, 
every  one  laughed  at  him ;  some  said  he  had  dreamed  it  all,  as 
he  dozed  on  his  mule  :  others  thought  it  all  a  fabrication  of  his 
own ;  but  what  was  strange,  Senor,  and  made  people  afterwards 
think  more  seriously  of  the  matter,  was,  that  the  Grand  In 
quisitor  died  within  the  year.  I  have  often  heard  my  grand- 


200  THE    ALHAMBRA 

father,  the  tailor,  say,  that  there  was  more  meant  by  that 
hobgoblin  army  bearing  off  the  resemblance  of  the  priest,  than 
folks  dared  to  surmise." 

"Then  you  would  insinuate,  friend  Mateo,  that  there  is  a 
kind  of  Moorish  limbo,  or  purgatory,  in  the  bowels  of  these 
mountains,  to  which  the  padre  Inquisitor  was  borne  off." 

"  God  forbid,  Seiior !  I  know  nothing  of  the  matter.  I 
only  relate  what  I  heard  from  my  grandfather." 

By  the  time  Mateo  had  finished  the  tale,  which  I  have  more 
succinctly  related,  and  which  was  interlarded  with  many  com 
ments,  and  spun  out  with  minute  details,  we  reached  the  gate 
of  the  Alhambra. 

The  marvellous  stories  hinted  at  by  Mateo,  in  the  early  part 
of  our  ramble  about  the  Tower  of  the  Seven  Floors,  set  me  as 
usual  upon  my  goblin  researches.  I  found  that  the  redoubta 
ble  phantom,  the  Belludo,  had  been  time  out  of  mind  a  favorite 
theme  of  nursery  tales  and  popular  traditions  in  Granada,  and 
that  honorable  mention  had  even  been  made  of  it  by  an  ancient 
historian  and  topographer  of  the  place.  The  scattered  members 
of  one  of  these  popular  traditions  I  have  gathered  together,  col 
lated  them  with  infinite  pains,  and  digested  them  into  the  fol 
lowing  legend  ;  which  only  wants  a  number  of  learned  notes 
and  references  at  bottom  to  take  its  rank  among  those  concrete 
productions  gravely  passed  upon  the  world  for  Historical  Facts. 


LEGEND  OF  THE  MOOR'S  LEGACY 

JUST  within  the  fortress  of  the  Alhambra,  in  front  of  the 
royal  palace,  is  a  broad  open  esplanade,  called  the  Place  or 
Square  of  the  Cisterns  (la  Plaza  de  los  Algibes),  so  called  from 
being  undermined  by  reservoirs  of  water,  hidden  from  sight, 
and  which  have  existed  from  the  time  of  the  Moors.  At  one 
corner  of  this  esplanade  is  a  Moorish  well,  cut  through  the  liv- 


LEGEND    OF    THE    MOOR'S    LEGACY  201 

ing  rock  to  a  great  depth,  the  water  of  which  is  cold  as  ice  and 
clear  as  crystal.  The  wells  made  by  the  Moors  are  always  in 
repute,  for  it  is  well  known  what  pains  they  took  to  penetrate 
to  the  purest  and  sweetest  springs  and  fountains.  The  one  of 
which  we  now  speak  is  famous  throughout  Granada,  insomuch 
that  water-carriers,  some  bearing  great  water-jars  on  their 
shoulders,  others  driving  asses  before  them  laden  with  earthen 
vessels,  are  ascending  and  descending  the  steep  woody  avenues 
of  the  Alhambra,  from  early  dawn  until  a  late  hour  of  the 
night. 

Fountains  and  wells,  ever  since  the  scriptural  days,  have 
been  noted  gossiping-places  in  hot  climates;  and  at  the  well 
in  question  there  is  a  kind  of  perpetual  club  kept  up  during  the 
livelong  day,  by  the  invalids,  old  women,  and  other  curious  do- 
nothing  folk  of  the  fortress,  who  sit  here  on  the  stone  benches, 
under  an  awning  spread  over  the  well  to  shelter  the  toll-gath 
erer  from  the  sun,  and  dawdle  over  the  gossip  of  the "  fortress, 
and  question  every  water-carrier  that  arrives  about  the  news  of 
the  city,  and  make  long  comments  on  everything  they  hear  and 
see.  Not  an  hour  of  the  day  but  loitering  housewives-  and  idle 
maid-servants  may  be  seen,  lingering,  with  pitcher  on  head  or 
in  hand,  to  hear  the  last  of  the  endless  tattle  of  these  worthies. , 

Among  the  water-carriers  who  once  resorted  to  this  well, 
there  was  a  sturdy,  strong-backed,  bandy-legged  little  fellow, 
named  Pedro  Gil,  but  called  Peregil  for  shortness.  Being  a 
water-carrier,  he  was  a  Gallego,  or  native  of  Gallicia,  of  course. 
Nature  seems  to  have  formed  races  of  men,  as  she  has  of  ani 
mals,  for  different  kinds  of  drudgery.  In  France  the  shoeblacks 
are  all  Savoyards,  the  porters  of  hotels  all  Swiss,  and  in  the 
days  of  hoops  and  hair-powder  in  England,  no  man  could  give 
the  regular  swing  to  a  sedan-chair  but  a  bog-trotting  Irishman. 
So  in  Spain,  the  carriers  of  water  and  bearers  of  burdens  are  all 
sturdy  little  natives  of  Gallicia,  No  man  says,  "Get  me  a 
porter,"  but,  "Call  a  Gallego." 


202  THE    ALHAMBRA 

To  return  from  this  digression,  Peregil  the  Gal  lego  had  be 
gun  business  with  merely  a  great  earthen  jar  which  he  carried 
upon  his  shoulder ;  by  degrees  he  rose  in  the  world,  and  was 
enabled  to  purchase  an  assistant  of  a  correspondent  class  of 
animals,  being  a  stout  shaggy-haired  donkey.  On  each  side  of 
this  his  long-eared  aide-de-camp,  in  a  kind  of  pannier,  were 
slung  his  water-jars,  covered  with  fig-leaves  to  protect  them 
from  the  sun.  There  was  not  a  more  industrious  water-carrier 
in  all  Granada,  nor  one  more  merry  withal.  The  streets  rang 
with  his  cheerful  voice  as  he  trudged  after  his  donkey,  singing 
forth  the  usual  summer  note  that  resounds  through  the  Spanish 
towns  :  "  Quien  quiere  agua  —  agua  mas  fria  que  la  nieve  ?  " 
—  " Who  wants  water  —  water  colder  than  snow?  Who 
wants  water  from  the  well  of  the  Alhambra,  cold  as  ice  and 
clear  as  crystal  ? "  When  he  served  a  customer  with  a  spark 
ling  glass,  it  was  always  with  a  pleasant  word  that  caused  a 
smile ;  and  if,  perchance,  it  was  a  comely  dame  or  dimpling 
damsel,  it  was  always  with  a  sly  leer  and  a  compliment  to  her 
beauty  that  was  irresistible.  Thus  Peregil  the  Gallego  was 
noted  throughout  all  Granada  for  being  one  of  the  civilest, 
pleasantest,  and  happiest  of  mortals.  Yet  it  is  not  he  who 
sings  loudest  and  jokes  most  that  has  the  lightest  heart.  Un 
der  all  this  air  of  merriment,  honest  Peregil  had  his  cares  and 
troubles.  He  had  a  large  family  of  ragged  children  to  support, 
who  were  hungry  and  clamorous  as  a  nest  of  young  swallows, 
and  beset  him  with  their  outcries  for  food  whenever  he  came 
home  of  an  evening.  He  had  a  helpmate,  too,  who  was  any 
thing  but  a  help  to  him.  She  had  been  a  village  beauty  before 
marriage,  noted  for  her  skill  at  dancing  the  bolero  and  rattling 
the  castanets ;  and  she  still  retained  her  early  propensities, 
spending  the  hard  earnings  of  honest  Peregil  in  frippery,  and 
laying  the  very  donkey  under  requisition  for  junketing  parties 
into  the  country  on  Sundays  and  saints'  days,  and  those  innum 
erable  holidays,  which  are  rather  more  numerous  in  Spain  than 


THE  WELL  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA       203 

the  days  of  the  week.  With  all  this  she  was  a  little  of  a  slat 
tern,  something  more  of  a  lie-abed,  and,  above  all,  a  gossip  of 
the  first  water ;  neglecting  house,  household,  and  everything  else, 
to  loiter  slipshod  in  the  houses  of  her  gossip  neighbors. 

He,  however,  who  tempers  the  wind  to  the  shorn  lamb,  ac 
commodates  the  yoke  of  matrimony  to  the  submissive  neck. 
Peregil  bore  all  the  heavy  dispensations  of  wife  and  children 
with  as  meek  a  spirit  as  his  donkey  bore  the  water-jars  ;  and, 
however  he  might  shake  his  ears  in  private,  never  ventured  to 
question  the  household  virtues  of  his  slattern  spouse. 

He  loved  his  children,  too,  even  as  an  owl  loves  its  owlets, 
seeing  in  them  his  own  image  multiplied  and  perpetuated  ;  for 
they  were  a  sturdy,  long -backed,  bandy-legged  little  brood. 
The  great  pleasure  of  honest  Peregil  was,  whenever  he  could 
afford  himself  a  scanty  holiday,  and  had  a  handful  of  maravedis 
to  spare,  to  take  the  whole  litter  forth  with  him,  some  in  his 
arms,  some  tugging  at  his  skirts,  and  some  trudging  at  his 
heels,  and  to  treat  them  to  a  gambol  among  the  orchards  of  the 
Vega,  while  his  wife  was  dancing  with  her  holiday  friends  in 
the  Angosturas  of  the  Darro. 

It  was  a  late  hour  one  summer  night,  and  most  of  the  water- 
carriers  had  desisted  from  their  toils.  The  day  had  been  uncom 
monly  sultry;  the  night  was  one  of  those  delicious  moonlights 
which  tempt  the  inhabitants  of  southern  climes  to  indemnify 
themselves  for  the  heat  and  inaction  of  the  day,  by  lingering  in 
the  open  air,  and  enjoying  its  tempered  sweetness  until  after 
midnight.  Customers  for  water  were  therefore  still  abroad. 
Peregil,  like  a  considerate,  painstaking  father,  thought  of  his 
hungry  children.  "  One  more  journey  to  the  well,"  said  he  to 
himself,  "to  earn  a  Sunday's  puchero  for  the  little  ones."  So 
saying,  he  trudged  manfully  up  the  steep  avenue  of  the  Alham- 
bra,  singing  as  he  went,  and  now  and  then  bestowing  a  hearty 
thwack  with  a  cudgel  on  the  flanks  of  his  donkey,  either  by 
way  of  cadence  to  the  song,  or  refreshment  to  the  animal ;  for 


204  THE    ALHAMBRA 

dry  blows  serve  in  lieu  of  provender  in  Spain  for  all  beasts  of 
burden. 

When  arrived  at  the  well,  he  found  it  deserted  by  every  one 
except  a  solitary  stranger  in  Moorish  garb,  seated  on  a  stone 
bench  in  the  moonlight.  Peregil  paused  at  first  and  regarded 
him  with  surprise,  not  unmixed  with  awe,  but  the  Moor  feebly 
beckoned  him  to  approach.  "  I  am  faint  and  ill,"  said  he ; 
"aid  me  to  return  to  the  city,  and  I  will  pay  thee  double  what 
thou  couldst  gain  by  thy  jars  of  water." 

The  honest  heart  of  the  little  water-carrier  was  touched  with 
compassion  at  the  appeal  of  the  stranger.  "God  forbid,"  said 
he,  "that  I  should  ask  fee  or  reward  for  doing  a  common  act  of 
humanity."  He  accordingly  helped  the  Moor  on  his  donkey, 
and  set  off  slowly  for  Granada,  the  poor  Moslem  being  so  weak 
that  it  was  necessary  to  hold  him  on  the  animal  to  keep  him 
from  falling  to  the  earth. 

When  they  entered  the  city,  the  water-carrier  demanded 
whither  he  should  conduct  him.  "Alas!"  said  the  Moor, 
faintly,  "  I  have  neither  home  nor  habitation ;  I  am  a  stranger 
in  the  land.  Suffer  me  to  lay  my  head  this  night  beneath  thy 
roof,  and  thou  shalt  be  amply  repaid." 

Honest  Peregil  thus  saw  himself  unexpectedly  saddled  with 
an  infidel  guest,  but  he  was  too  humane  to  refuse  a  night's 
shelter  to  a  fellow-being  in  so  forlorn  a  plight ;  so  he  conducted 
the  Moor  to  his  dwelling.  The  children,  who  had  sallied  forth 
open-mouthed  as  usual  on  hearing  the  tramp  of  the  donkey,  ran 
back  with  affright  when  they  beheld  the  turbaned  stranger,  and 
hid  themselves  behind  their  mother.  The  latter  stepped  forth 
intrepidly,  like  a  ruffling  hen  before  her  brood  when  a  vagrant 
dog  approaches. 

"What  infidel  companion,"  cried  she,  "is  this  you  have 
brought  home  at  this  late  hour,  to  draw  upon  us  the  eyes  of 
the  Inquisition  ? " 

"Be  quiet,  wife,"  replied  the  Gallego;  "here  is  a  poor  sick 


THE    TURBANED    GUEST  205 

stranger,  without  friend  or  home ;  wouldst  thou  turn  him  forth 
to  perish  in  the  streets  1 " 

The  wife  would  still  have  remonstrated,  for  although  she 
lived  in  a  hovel,  she  was  a  furious  stickler  for  the  credit  of  her 
house ;  the  little  water-carrier,  however,  for  once  was  stifFnecked, 
and  refused  to  bend  beneath  the  yoke.  He  assisted  the  poor 
Moslem  to  alight,  and  spread  a  mat  and  a  sheep- skin  for  him, 
on  the  ground,  in  the  coolest  part  of  the  house;  being  the  only 
kind  of  bed  that  his  poverty  afforded. 

In  a  little  while  the  Moor  was  seized  with  violent  convulsions, 
which  defied  all  the  ministering  skill  of  the  simple  water-carrier. 
The  eye  of  the  poor  patient  acknowledged  his  kindness.  During 
an  interval  of  his  fits  he  called  him  to  his  side,  and  addressing 
him  in  a  low  voice,  " My  end,"  said  he,  "I  fear  is  at  hand.  If 
I  die,  I  bequeath  you  this  box  as  a  reward  for  your  charity." 
So  saying,  he  opened  his  albornoz,  or  cloak,  and  showed  a  small 
box  of  sandal- wood,  strapped  round  his  body.  "  God  grant,  my 
friend,"  replied  the  worthy  little  Gallego,  "that  you  may  live 
many  years  to  enjoy  your  treasure,  whatever  it  may  be."  The 
Moor  shook  his  head ;  he  laid  his  hand  upon  the  box,  and  would 
have  said  something  more  concerning  it,  but  his  convulsions  re 
turned  with  increasing  violence,  and  in  a  little  while  he  expired. 

The  water-carrier's  wife  was  now  as  one  distracted.  "This 
comes,"  said  she,  "of  your  foolish  good-nature,  always  running 
into  scrapes  to  oblige  others.  What  will  become  of  us  when 
this  corpse  is  found  in  our  house?  We  shall  be  sent  to  prison 
as  murderers ;  and,  if  we  escape  with  our  lives,  shall  be  ruined 
by  notaries  and  alguazils. 

Poor  Peregil  was  in  equal  tribulation,  and  almost  repented 
himself  of  having  done  a  good  deed.  At  length  a  thought 
struck  him.  "It  is  not  yet  day,"  said  he;  "I  can  convey  the 
dead  body  out  of  the  city,  and  bury  it  in  the  sands  on  the  banks 
of  the  Xenil.  No  one  saw  the  Moor  enter  our  dwelling,  and 
no  one  will  know  anything  of  his  death." 


206  THE    ALHAMBRA 

So  said,  so  done.  The  wife  aided  him ;  they  rolled  the  body 
of  the  unfortunate  Moslem  in  the  mat  on  which  he  had  expired, 
laid  it  across  the  ass,  and  Peregil  set  out  with  it  for  the  banks 
of  the  river. 

As  ill  luck  would  have  it,  there  lived  opposite  to  the  water- 
carrier  a  barber  named  Pedrillo  Pedrugo,  one  of  the  most  prying, 
tattling,  and  mischief-making  of  his  gossip  tribe.  He  was  a 
weasel-faced,  spider-legged  varlet,  supple  and  insinuating;  the 
famous  barber  of  Seville  could  not  surpass  him  for  his  universal 
knowledge  of  the  affairs  of  others,  and  he  had  no  more  power  of 
retention  than  a  sieve.  It  was  said  that  he  slept  but  with  one 
eye  at  a  time,  and  kept  one  ear  uncovered,  so  that  even  in  his 
sleep  he  might  see  and  hear  all  that  was  going  on.  Certain  it  is, 
he  was  a  sort  of  scandalous  chronicle  for  the  quidnuncs  of  Gra 
nada,  and  had  more  customers  than  all  the  rest  of  his  fraternity. 

This  meddlesome  barber  heard  Peregil  arrive  at  an  unusual 
hour  at  night,  and  the  exclamations  of  his  wife  and  children. 
His  head  was  instantly  popped  out  of  a  little  window  which 
served  him  as  a  look-out,  and  he  saw  his  neighbor  assist  a  man 
in  Moorish  garb  into  his  dwelling.  This  was  so  strange  an 
occurrence,  that  Pedrillo  Pedrugo  slept  not  a  wink  that  night. 
Every  five  minutes  he  was  at  his  loophole,  watching  the  lights 
that  gleamed  through  the  chinks  of  his  neighbor's  door,  and 
before  daylight  he  beheld  Peregil  sally  forth  with  his  donkey 
unusually  laden. 

The  inquisitive  barber  was  in  a  fidget;  he  slipped  on  his 
clothes,  and,  stealing  forth  silently,  followed  the  water-carrier  at 
a  distance,  until  he  saw  Him  dig  a  hole  in  the  sandy  bank  of 
the  Xenil,  and  bury  something  that  had  the  appearance  of  a 
dead  body. 

The  barber  hied  him  home,  and  fidgeted  about  his  shop,  set 
ting  everything  upside  down,  until  sunrise.  He  then  took  a 
basin  under  his  arm,  and  sallied  forth  to  the  house  of  his  daily 
customer  the  alcalde. 


A    GOSSIP    BARBER  207 

The  alcalde  was  just  risen.  Pedrillo  Pedrugo  seated  him  in 
a  chair,  threw  a  napkin  round  his  neck,  put  a  basin  of  hot 
water  under  his  chin,  and  began  to  mollify  his  beard  with  his 
fingers. 

"  Strange  doings  ! "  said  Pedrugo,  who  played  barber  and  news 
monger  at  the  same  time,  —  "  strange  doings !  Eobbery,  and 
murder,  and  burial  all  in  one  night ! " 

"  Hey  !  —  how  ! —  what  is  that  you  say  1 "  cried  the  alcalde. 

"  I  say,"  replied  the  barber,  rubbing  a  piece  of  soap  over  the 
nose  and  mouth  of  the  dignitary,  for  a  Spanish  barber  disdains 
to  employ  a  brush,  —  "I say  that  Peregil  the  Gallego  has  robbed 
and  murdered  a  Moorish  Mussulman,  and  buried  him,  this  blessed 
night.  Maldita  sea  la  noche  ;  —  accursed  be  the  night  for  "the 
same  ! " 

"  But  how  do  you  know  all  this  ? "  demanded  the  alcalde. 

"Be  patient,  Senor,  and  you  shall  hear  all  about  it,"  replied 
Pedrillo,  taking  him  by  the  nose  and  sliding  a  razor  over  his 
cheek.  He  then  recounted  all  that  he  had  seen,  going  through 
both  operations  at  the  same  time,  shaving  his  beard,  washing 
his  chin,  and  wiping  him  dry  with  a  dirty  napkin,  while  he  was 
robbing,  murdering,  and  burying  the  Moslem. 

Now  it  so  happened  that  this  alcalde  was  one  of  the  most 
overbearing,  and  at  the  same  time  most  griping  and  corrupt 
curmudgeons  in  all  Granada.  It  could  not  be  denied,  however, 
that  he  set  a  high  value  upon  justice,  for  he  sold  it  at  its  weight 
in  gold.  He  presumed  the  case  in  point  to  be  one  of  murder 
and  robbery ;  doubtless  there  must  be  a  rich  spoil ;  how  was  it 
to  be  secured  into  the  legitimate  hands  of  the  law  ?  for  as  to 
merely  entrapping  the  delinquent  —  that  would  be  feeding  the 
gallows ;  but  entrapping  the  booty  —  that  would  be  enriching 
the  judge,  and  such,  according  to  his  creed,  was  the  great  end 
of  justice.  So  thinking,  he  summoned  to  his  presence  his  trusti 
est  alguazil  —  a  gaunt,  hungry-looking  yarlet,  clad,  according  to 
the  custom  of  his  order,  in  the  ancienlTTSpanish  garb,  a  broad 


208  THE    ALHAMBRA 

black  beaver  turned  up  at  its  sides ;  a  quaint  ruff ;  a  small 
black  cloak  dangling  from  his  shoulders ;  rusty  black  under 
clothes  that  set  off  his  spare  wiry  frame,  while  in  his  hand  he 
bore  a  slender  white  wand,  the  dreaded  insignia  of  his  office. 
Such  was  the  legal  bloodhound  of  the  ancient  Spanish  breed, 
that  he  put  upon  the  traces  of  the  unlucky  water-carrier,  and 
such  was  his  speed  and  certainty,  that  he  was  upon  the  haunches 
of  poor  Peregil  before  he  had  returned  to  his  dwelling,  and 
brought  both  him  and  his  donkey  before  the  dispenser  of  justice. 

The  alcalde  bent  upon  him  one  of  the  most  terrific  frowns. 
"  Hark  ye,  culprit !  "  roared  he,  in  a  voice  that  made  the  knees 
of  the  little  Gallego  smite  together,  —  "  hark  ye,  culprit !  there 
is  no  need  of  denying  thy  guilt,  everything  is  known  to  me.  A 
gallows  is  the  proper  reward  for  the  crime  thou  hast  committed, 
but  I  am  merciful,  and  readily  listen  to  reason.  The  man  that 
has  been  murdered  in  thy  house  was  a  Moor,  an  infidel,  the  enemy 
of  our  faith.  It  was  doubtless  in  a  fit  of  religious  zeal  that 
thou  hast  slain  him.  I  will  be  indulgent,  therefore ;  render  up 
the  property  of  which  thou  hast  robbed  him,  and  we  will  hush 
the  matter  up." 

The  poor  water-carrier  called  upon  all  the  saints  to  witness 
his  innocence ;  alas  !  not  one  of  them  appeared ;  and  if  they 
had,  the  alcalde  would  have  disbelieved  the  whole  calendar. 
The  water-carrier  related  the  whole  story  of  the  dying  Moor 
with  the  straightforward  simplicity  of  truth,  but  it  was  all  in 
vain.  "Wilt  thou  persist  in  saying,"  demanded  the  judge, 
"  that  this  Moslem  had  neither  gold  nor  jewels,  which  were  the 
object  of  thy  cupidity  ? " 

"As  I  hope  to  be  saved,  your  worship,"  replied  the  water- 
carrier,  "  he  had  nothing  but  a  small  box  of  sandal- wood,  which 
he  bequeathed  to  me  in  reward  for  my  services." 

"  A  box  of  sandal- wood  !  a  box  of  sandal- wood  !  "  exclaimed 
the  alcalde,  his  eyes  sparkling  at  the  idea  of  precious  jewels. 
"  And  where  is  this  box  ?  where  have  you  concealed  it  1 " 


THE    BOX    OF    SANDAL-WOOD  209 

"  An'  it  please  your  grace,"  replied  the  water-carrier,  "it  is 
in  one  of  the  panniers  of  my  mule,  and  heartily  at  the  service 
of  your  worship." 

He  had  hardly  spoken  the  words,  when  the  keen  alguazil 
darted  off,  and  reappeared  in  an  instant  with  the  mysterious 
box  of  sandal-wood.  The  alcalde  opened  it  with  an  eager  and 
trembling  hand ;  all  pressed  forward  to  gaze  upon  the  treasure 
it  was  expected  to  contain ;  when,  to  their  disappointment, 
nothing  appeared  within,  but  a  parchment  scroll,  covered  with 
Arabic  characters,  and  an  end  of  a  waxen  taper. 

When  there  is  nothing  to  be  gained  by  the  conviction  of  a 
prisoner,  justice,  even  in  Spain,  is  apt  to  be  impartial.  The 
alcalde,  having  recovered  from  his  disappointment,  and  found 
that  there  was  really  no  booty  in  the  case,  now  listened  dispas 
sionately  to  the  explanation  of  the  water-carrier,  which  was 
corroborated  by  the  testimony  of  his  wife.  Being  convinced, 
therefore,  of  his  innocence,  he  discharged  him  from  arrest ;  nay 
more,  he  permitted  him  to  carry  off  the  Moor's  legacy,  the  box 
of  sandal-wood  and  its  contents,  as  the  well-merited  reward  of 
his  humanity ;  but  he  retained  his  donkey  in  payment  of  costs 
and  charges. 

Behold  the  unfortunate  little  Gallego  reduced  once  more  to  the 
necessity  of  being  his  own  water-carrier,  and  trudging  up  to  the 
well  of  the  Alhambra  with 'a  great  earthen  jar  upon  his  shoulder. 

As  he  toiled  up  the  hill  in  the  heat  of  a  summer  noon,  his 
usual  good-humor  forsook  him.  "  Dog  of  an  alcalde  !  "  would 
he  cry,  "  to  rob  a  poor  man  of  the  means  of  his  subsistence,  of 
the  best  friend  he  had  in  the  world ! "  And  then  at  the  re 
membrance  of  the  beloved  companion  of  his  labors,  all  the 
kindness  of  his  nature  would  break  forth.  "Ah,  donkey  of 
my  heart ! "  would  he  exclaim,  resting  his  burden  on  a  stone, 
.  and  wiping  the  sweat  from  his  brow,  — "  ah,  donkey  of  my 
heart !  I  warrant  me  thou  thinkest  of  thy  qld  master !  I 
warrant  me  thou  missest  the  water-jars  —  poor  beast." 


210  THE   ALHAMBRA 

To  add  to  his  afflictions,  his  wife  received  him,  on  his  return 
home,  with  whimperings  and  repinings ;  she  had  clearly  the 
vantage-ground  of  him,  having  warned  him  not  to  commit  the 
egregious  act  of  hospitality  which  had  brought  on  him  all  these 
misfortunes ;  and,  like  a  knowing  woman,  she  took  every 
occasion  to  throw  her  superior  sagacity  in  his  teeth.  If  her 
children  lacked  food,  or  needed  a  new  garment,  she  could  answer 
with  a  sneer,  "Go  to  your  father  —  he  is  heir  to  king  Chico  of 
the  Alhambra :  ask  him  to  help  you  out  of  the  Moor's  strong 
box." 

Was  ever  poor  mortal  so  soundly  punished  for  having  done  a 
good  action  ?  The  unlucky  Peregil  was  grieved  in  flesh  and 
spirit,  but  still  he  bore  meekly  with  the  railings  of  his  spouse. 
At  length,  one  evening,  when,  after  a  hot  day's  toil,  she  taunted 
him  in  the  usual  manner,  he  lost  all  patience.  He  did  not 
venture  to  retort  upon  her,  but  his  eye  rested  upon  the  box  of 
sandal-wood,  which  lay  on  the  shelf  with  lid  half  open,  as  if 
laughing  in  mockery  at  his  vexation.  Seizing  it  up,  he  dashed 
it  with  indignation  to  the  floor.  "  Unlucky  was  the  day  that 
I  ever  set  eyes  on  thee,"  he  cried,  "or  sheltered  thy  master 
beneath  my  roof !  " 

As  the  box  struck  the  floor,  the  lid  flew  wide  open,  and  the 
parchment  scroll  rolled  forth. 

Peregil  sat  regarding  the  scroll  for  some  time  in  moody 
silence.  At  length  rallying  his  ideas,  "Who  knows,"  thought 
he,  "  but  this  writing  may  be  of  some  importance,  as  the  Moor 
seems  to  have  guarded  it  with  such  care  ? "  Picking  it  up 
therefore,  he  put  it  in  his  bosom,  and  the  next  morning,  as  he 
was  crying  water  through  the  streets,  he  stopped  at  the  shop 
of  a  Moor,  a  native  of  Tangiers,  who  sold  trinkets  and  perfum 
ery  in  the  Zacatin,  and  asked  him  to  explain  the  contents. 

The  Moor  read  the  scroll  attentively,  then  stroked  his  beard . 
and  smiled.     "  This  manuscript,"  said  he,  "is  a  form  of  incanta 
tion  for  the  recovery  of  hidden  treasure  that  is  under  the  power 


PEREGIL    AND    THE    MOOR  211 

of  enchantment.  It  is  said  to  have  such  virtue  that  the  strong 
est  bolts  and  bars,  nay  the  adamantine  rock  itself,  will  yield 
before  it ! " 

"Bah  !  "  cried  the  little  Gallego,  "what  is  all  that  to  me? 
I  am  no  enchanter,  and  know  nothing  of  buried  treasure."  So 
saying,  he  shouldered  his  water-jar,  left  the  scroll  in  the  hands 
of  the  Moor,  and  trudged  forward  on  his  daily  rounds. 

That  evening,  however,  as  he  rested  himself  about  twilight  at 
the  well  of  the  Alhambra,  he  found  a  number  of  gossips  assem 
bled  at  the  place,  and  their  conversation,  as  is  not  unusual  at  that 
shadowy  hour,  turned  upon  old  tales  and  traditions  of  a  super 
natural  nature.  Being  all  poor  as  rats,  they  dwelt  with  pecul 
iar  fondness  upon  the  popular  theme  of  enchanted  riches  left 
by  the  Moors  in  various  parts  of  the  Alhambra.  Above  all, 
they  concurred  in  the  belief  that  there  were  great  treasures 
buried  deep  in  the  earth  under  the  tower  of  the  seven  floors. 

These  stories  made  an  unusual  impression  on  the  mind  of  the 
honest  Peregil,  and  they  sank  deeper  and  deeper  into  his  thoughts 
as  he  returned  alone  down  the  darkling  avenues.  "  If,  after  all, 
there  should  be  treasure  hid  beneath  that  tower;  and  if  the 
scroll  I  left  with  the  Moor  should  enable  me  to  get  at  it !  "  In 
the  sudden  ecstasy  of  the  thought  he  had  wellnigh  let  fall  his 
water-jar. 

That  night  he  tumbled  and  tossed,  and  could  scarcely  get  a 
wink  of  sleep  for  the  thoughts  that  were  bewildering  his  brain. 
Bright  and  early  he  repaired  to  the  shop  of  the  Moor,  and  told 
him  all  that  was  passing  in  his  mind.  "You  can  read  Arabic," 
said  he;  "suppose  we  go  together  to  the  tower,  and  try  the 
effect  of  the  charm  ;  if  it  fails,  we  are  no  worse  off  than  before  ; 
but  if  it  succeeds,  we  will  share  equally  all  the  treasure  we  may 
discover." 

"  Hold,"  replied  the  Moslem  ;  "  this  writing  is  not  sufficient 
of  itself ;  it  must  be  read  at  midnight,  by  the  light  of  a  taper 
singularly  compounded  and  prepared,  the  ingredients  of  .which 


212  THE    ALHAMBRA 

are  not  within  my  reach.  Without  such  a  taper  the  scroll  is  of 
no  avail." 

"Say  no  more  !  "  cried  the  little  Gallego ;  "  I  have  such  a 
taper  at  hand,  and  will  bring  it  here  in  a  moment."  So  say 
ing,  he  hastened  home,  and  soon  returned  with  the  end  of 
yellow  wax  taper  that  he  had  found  in  the  box  of  sandal- 
wood. 

The  Moor  felt  it  and  smelt  to  it.  "  Here  are  rare  and  costly 
perfumes,"  said  he,  "  combined  with  this  yellow  wax.  This  is 
the  kind  of  taper  specified  in  the  scroll.  While  this  burns,  the 
strongest  walls  and  most  secret  caverns  will  remain  open.  Woe 
to  him,  however,  who  lingers  within  until  it  be  extinguished. 
He  will  remain  enchanted  with  the  treasure." 

It  was  now  agreed  between  them  to  try  the  charm  that  very 
night.  At  a  late  hour,  therefore,  when  nothing  was  stirring 
but  bats  and  owls,  they  ascended  the  woody  hill  of  the  Alham- 
bra,  and  approached  that  awful  tower,  shrouded  by  trees  and 
rendered  formidable  by  so  many  traditionary  tales.  By  the 
light  of  a  lantern  they  groped  their  way  through  bushes,  and 
over  fallen  stones,  to  the  door  of  a  vault  beneath  the  tower. 
With  fear  and  trembling  they  descended  a  flight  of  steps  cut 
into  the  rock.  It  led  to  an  empty  chamber,  damp  and  drear, 
from  which  another  flight  of  steps  led  to  a  deeper  vault.  In 
this  way  they  descended  four  several  flights,  leading  into  as 
many  vaults,  one  below  the  other,  but  the  floor  of  the  fourth 
was  solid ;  and  though,  according  to  tradition,  there  remained 
three  vaults  still  below,  it  was  said  to  be  impossible  to  pene 
trate  further,  the  residue  being  shut  up  by  strong  enchant 
ment.  The  air  of  this  vault  was  damp  and  chilly,  and  had  an 
earthy  smell,  and  the  light  scarce  cast  forth  any  rays.  They 
paused  here  for  a  time,  in  breathless  suspense,  until  they  faintly 
heard  the  clock  of  the  watch-tower  strike  midnight ;  upon  this 
they  lit  the  waxen  taper,  which  diffused  an  odor  of  myrrh  and 
frankincense  and  storax. 


THE   INCANTATION  213 

The  Moor  began  to  read  in  a  hurried  voice.  He  had  scarce 
finished  when  there  was  a  noise  as  of  subterraneous  thunder. 
The  earth  shook,  and  the  floor,  yawning  open,  disclosed  a  flight 
of  steps.  Trembling  with  awe,  they  descended,  and  by  the 
light  of  the  lantern  found  themselves  in  another  vault  covered 
with  Arabic  inscriptions.  In  the  centre  stood  a  great  chest, 
secured  with  seven  bands  of  steel,  at  each  end  of  which  sat  an 
enchanted  Moor  in  armor,  but  motionless  as  a  statue,  being 
controlled  by  the  power  of  the  incantation.  Before  the  chest 
were  several  jars  filled  with  gold  and  silver  and  precious  stones. 
In  the  largest  of  these  they  thrust  their  arms  up  to  the  elbow, 
and  at  every  dip  hauled  forth  handfuls  of  broad  yellow  pieces 
of  Moorish  gold,  or  bracelets  and  ornaments  of  the  same  pre 
cious  metal,  while  occasionally  a  necklace  of  Oriental  pearl 
would  stick  to  their  fingers.  Still  they  trembled  and  breathed, 
short  while  cramming  their  pockets  with  the  spoils  ;  and  cast 
many  a  fearful  glance  at  the  two  enchanted  Moors,  who  sat 
grim  and  motionless,  glaring  upon  them  with  unwinking  eyes. 
At  length,  struck  with  a  sudden  panic  at  some  fancied  noise, 
they  both  rushed  up  the  staircase,  tumbled  over  one  another 
into  the  upper  apartment,  overturned  and  extinguished  the 
waxen  taper,  and  the  pavement  again  closed  with  a  thunde'ring 
sound. 

Filled  with  dismay,  they  did  not  pause  until  they  had  groped 
their  way  out  of  the  tower,  and  beheld  the  stars  shining  through 
the  trees.  Then  seating  themselves  upon  the  grass,  they  di 
vided  the  spoil,  determining  to  content  themselves  for  the 
present  with  this  mere  skimming  of  the  jars,  but  to  return  on 
some  future  night  and  drain  them  to  the  bottom.  To  make 
sure  of  each  other's  good  faith,  also,  they  divided  the  talismans 
between  them,  one  retaining  the  scroll  and  the  other  the  taper ; 
this  done,  they  set  off  with  light  hearts  and  well-lined  pockets 
for  Granada. 

As  they  wended  their  way  down  the  hill,  the  shrewd  Moor 


214  THE    ALHAMBRA 

whispered  a  word  of  counsel  in  the  ear  of  the  simple  little 
water-carrier. 

"Friend  Peregil,"  said  he,  "all  this  affair  must  be  kept  a 
profound  secret  until  we  have  secured  the  treasure,  and  con 
veyed  it  out  of  harm's  way.  If  a  whisper  of  it  gets  to  the  ear 
of  the  alcalde,  we  are  undone  !  " 

"Certainly,"  replied  the  Gallego,  "nothing  can  be  more 
true." 

"  Friend  Peregil,"  said  the  Moor,  "  you  are  a  discreet  man, 
and  I  make  no  doubt  can  keep  a  secret ;  but  you  have  a 
wife." 

"She  shall  not  know  a  word  of  it,"  replied  the  little  water- 
carrier,  sturdily. 

"  Enough,"  said  the  Moor,  "  I  depend  upon  thy  discretion 
and  thy  promise." 

Never  was  promise  more  positive  and  sincere ;  but,  alas  ! 
what  man  can  keep  a  secret  from  his  wife  1  Certainly  not 
such  a  one  as  Peregil  the  water-carrier,  who  was  one  of  the 
most  loving  and  tractable  of  husbands.  On  his  return  home 
he  found  his  wife  moping  in  a  corner.  "  Mighty  well,"  cried 
she  as  he  entered,  "  you've  come  at  last,  after  rambling  about 
until  this  hour  of  the  night.  I  wonder  you  have  not  brought 
home  another  Moor  as  a  house-mate."  Then  bursting  into 
tears,  she  began  to  wring  her  hands  and  smite  her  breast, 
"  Unhappy  woman  that  I  am  ! "  exclaimed  she,  "  what  will 
become  of  me  ?  My  house  stripped  and  plundered  by  lawyers 
and  alguazils ;  my  husband  a  do-no-good,  that  no  longer  brings 
home  bread  to  his  family,  but  goes  rambling  about  day  and 
night,  with  infidel  Moors  !  0  my  children  !  my  children  !  what 
will  become  of  us  ?  We  shall  all  have  to  beg  in  the  streets  !  " 

Honest  Peregil  was  so  moved  by  the  distress  of  his  spouse, 
that  he  could  not  help  whimpering  also.  His  heart  was  as  full 
as  his  pocket,  and  not  to  be  restrained.  Thrusting  his  hand 
into  the  latter  he  hauled  forth  three  or  four  broad  gold  piece*, 


A    DISCREET   HUSBAND  215 

and  slipped  them  into  her  bosom.  The  poor  woman  stared  with 
astonishment,  and  could  not  understand  the  meaning  of  this 
golden  shower.  Before  she  could  recover  her  surprise,  the 
little  Gallego  drew  forth  a  chain  of  gold  and  dangled  it  before 
her,  capering  with  exultation,  his  mouth  distended  from  ear  to 
ear. 

"Holy  Virgin  protect  us!"  exclaimed  the  wife.  "What 
hast  thou  been  doing,  Peregil  1  Surely  thou  hast  not  been  com 
mitting  murder  and  robbery  !  " 

The  idea  scarce  entered  the  brain  of  the  poor  woman,  than  it 
became  a  certainty  with  her.  She  saw  a  prison  and  a  gallows 
in  the  distance,  and  a  little  bandy-legged  Gallego  hanging  pen 
dent  from  it;  and,  overcome  by  the  horrors  conjured  up  by 
imagination,  fell  into  violent  hysterics. 

What  could  the  poor  man  do  ?  He  had  no  other  means  of 
pacifying  his  wife,  and  dispelling  the  phantoms  of  her  fancy, 
than  by  relating  the  whole  story  of  his  good  fortune.  This, 
however,  he  did  not  do  until  he  had  exacted  from  her  the  most 
solemn  promise  to  keep  it  a  profound  secret  from  every  living 
being. 

To  describe  her  joy  would  be  impossible.  She  flung  her  arms 
round  the  neck  of  her  husband,  and  almost  strangled  him  with 
her  caresses.  "Now,  wife,"  exclaimed  the  little  man  with  hon 
est  exultation,  "what  say  you  now  to  the  Moor's  legacy?  Hence 
forth  never  abuse  me  for  helping  a  fellow-creature  in  distress." 

The  honest  Gallego  retired  to  his  sheep-skin  mat,  and  slept 
as  soundly  as  if  on  a  bed  of  down.  Not  so  his  wife;  she 
emptied  the  whole  contents  of  his  pockets  upon  the  mat,  and 
sat  counting  gold  pieces  of  Arabic  coin,  trying  on  necklaces  and 
earrings,  and  fancying  the  figure  she  should  one  day  make  when 
permitted  to  enjoy  her  riches. 

On  the  following  morning  the  honest  Gallego  took  a  broad 
golden  coin,  and  repaired  with  it  to  a  jeweller's  shop  in  the 
Zacatin  to  offer  it  for  sale,  pretending  to  have  found  it  among 


216  THE    ALHAMBRA 

the  ruins  of  the  Alhambra.  The  jeweller  saw  that  it  had  an 
Arabic  inscription,  and  was  of  the  purest  gold ;  he  offered,  how 
ever,  but  a  third  of  its  value,  with  which  the  water-carrier  was 
perfectly  content.  Peregil  now  bought  new  clothes  for  his  little 
flock,  and  all  kinds  of  toys,  together  with  ample  provisions  for 
a  hearty  meal,  and  returning  to  his  dwelling,  set  all  his  children 
dancing  around  him,  while  he  capered  in  the  midst,  the  happiest 
of  fathers. 

The  wife  of  the  water-carrier  kept  her  promise  of  secrecy 
with  surprising  strictness.  For  a  whole  day  and  a  half  she 
went  about  with  a  look  of  mystery  and  a  heart  swelling  almost 
to  bursting,  yet  she  held  her  peace,  though  surrounded  by  her 
gossips.  It  is  true,  she  could  not  help  giving  herself  a  few  airs, 
apologized  for  her  ragged  dress,  and  talked  of  ordering  a  new 
basquina  all  trimmed  with  gold  lace  and  bugles,  and  a  new  lace 
mantilla.  She  threw  out  hints  of  her  husband's  intention  of 
leaving  off  his  trade  of  water-carrying,  as  it  did  not  altogether 
agree  with  his  health.  In  fact  she  thought  they  should  all  re 
tire  to  the  country  for  the  summer,  that  the  children  might 
have  the  benefit  of  the  mountain  air,  for  there  was  no  living 
in  the  city  in  this  sultry  season. 

The  neighbors  stared  at  each  other,  and  thought  the  poor 
woman  had  lost  her  wits ;  and  her  airs  and  graces  and  elegant 
pretensions  were  the  theme  of  universal  scoffing  and  merriment 
among  her  friends,  the  moment  her  back  was  turned. 

If  she  restrained  herself  abroad,  however,  she  indemnified 
herself  at  home,  and  putting  a  string  of  rich  Oriental  pearls 
round  her  neck,  Moorish  bracelets  on  her  arms,  and  an  aigrette 
of  diamonds  on  her  head,  sailed  backwards  and  forwards  in  her 
slattern  rags  about  the  room,  now  and  then  stopping  to  admire 
herself  in  a  broken  mirror.  Nay,  in  the  impulse  of  her  simple 
vanity,  she  could  not  resist,  on  one  occasion,  showing  herself  at 
the  window  to  enjoy  the  effect  of  her  finery  on  the  passers-by. 

As  the  fates  would  have  it,  Pedrillo  Pedrugo,  the  meddlesome 


THE    SECRET   BLOWN  217 

barber,  was  at  this  moment  sitting  idly  in  his  shop  on  the  oppo 
site  side  of  the  street,  when  his  ever- watchful  eye  caught  the 
sparkle  of  a  diamond.  In  an  instant  he  was  at  his  loophole 
reconnoitring  the  slattern  spouse  of  the  water-carrier,  decorated 
with  the  splendor  of  an  eastern  bride.  No  sooner  had  he  taken 
an  accurate  inventory  of  her  ornaments,  than  he  posted  off  with 
all  speed  to  the  alcalde.  In  a  little  while  the  hungry  alguazil 
was  again  on  the  scent,  and  before  the  day  was  over  the  unfortu 
nate  Peregil  was  once  more  dragged  into  the  presence  of  the 
judge. 

"  How  is  this,  villain !  "  cried  the  alcalde,  in  a  furious  voice. 
"  You  told  me  that  the  infidel  who  died  in  your  house  left  noth 
ing  behind  but  an  empty  coffer,  and  now  I  hear  of  your  wife 
flaunting  in  her  rags  decked  out  with  pearls  and  diamonds. 
Wretch  that  thou  art !  prepare  to  render  up  the  spoils  of  thy 
miserable  victim,  and  to  swing  on  the  gallows  that  is  already 
tired  of  waiting  for  thee." 

The  terrified  water-carrier  fell  on  his  knees,  and  made  a  full 
relation  of  the  marvellous  manner  in  which  he  had  gained  his 
wealth.  The  alcalde,  the  alguazil,  and  the  inquisitive  barber 
listened  with  greedy  ears  to  this  Arabian  tale  of  enchanted  treas 
ure.  The  alguazil  was  dispatched  to  bring  the  Moor  who  had 
assisted  in  the  incantation.  The  Moslem  entered  half  fright 
ened  out  of  his  wits  at  finding  himself  in  the  hands  of  the 
harpies  of  the  law.  When  he  beheld  the  water-carrier  stand 
ing  with  sheepish  looks  and  downcast  countenance,  he  compre 
hended  the  whole  matter.  "Miserable  animal,"  said  he,  as  he 
passed  near  him,  "did  I  not  warn  thee  against  babbling  to  thy 
wife?" 

The  story  of  the  Moor  coincided  exactly  with  that  of  his  col 
league  ;  but  the  alcalde  affected  to  be  slow  of  belief,  and  threw 
out  menaces  of  imprisonment  and  rigorous  investigation. 

"Softly,  good  Senor  Alcalde,"  said  the  Mussulman,  who  by 
this  time  had  recovered  his  usual  shrewdness  and  self-possession. 


218  THE    ALHAMBRA 

"Let  us  not  mar  fortune's  favors  in  the  scramble  for  them. 
Nobody  knows  anything  of  this  matter  but  ourselves ;  let  us 
keep  the  secret.  There  is  wealth  enough  in  the  cave  to  enrich 
us  all.  Promise  a  fair  division,  and  all  shall  be  produced ;  re 
fuse,  and  the  cave  shall  remain  forever  closed." 

The  alcalde  consulted  apart  with  the  alguazil.  The  latter 
was  an  old  fox  in  his  profession.  "Promise  anything,"  said  he, 
"until  you  get  possession  of  the  treasure.  You  may  then  seize 
upon  the  whole,  and  if  he  and  his  accomplice  dare  to  murmur, 
threaten  them  with  the  fagot  and  the  stake  as  infidels  and 
sorcerers." 

The  alcalde  relished  the  advice.  Smoothing  his  brow  and 
turning  to  the  Moor,  "This  is  a  strange  story,"  said  he,  "  and 
may  be  true,  but  I  must  have  ocular  proof  of  it.  This  very 
night  you  must  repeat  the  incantation  in  my  presence.  If  there 
be  really  such  treasure,  we  will  share  it  amicably  between  us, 
and  say  nothing  further  of  the  matter ;  if  ye  have  deceived  me, 
expect  no  mercy  at  my  hands.  In  the  meantime  you  must 
remain  in  custody." 

The  Moor  and  the  water-carrier  cheerfully  agreed  to  these 
conditions,  satisfied  that  the  event  would  prove  the  truth  of 
their  words. 

Towards  midnight  the  alcalde  sallied  forth  secretly,  attended 
by  the  alguazil  and  the  meddlesome  barber,  all  strongly  armed. 
They  conducted  the  Moor  and  the  water-carrier  as  prisoners, 
and  were  provided  with  the  stout  donkey  of  the  latter  to  bear 
off  the  expected  treasure.  They  arrived  at  the  tower  without 
being  observed,  and  tying  the  donkey  to  a  fig-tree,  descended 
into  the  fourth  vault  of  the  tower. 

The  scroll  was  produced,  the  yellow  waxen  taper  lighted,  and 
the  Moor  read  the  form  of  incantation.  The  earth  trembled  as 
before,  and  the  pavement  opened  with  a  thundering  sound,  dis 
closing  the  narrow  flight  of  steps.  The  alcalde,  the  alguazil, 
and  the  barber  were  struck  aghast,  and  could  not  summon  cour- 


THE    TREASURE  219 

age  to  descend.  The  Moor  and  the  water-carrier  entered  the 
lower  vault,  and  found  the  two  Moors  seated  as  before,  silent 
and  motionless.  They  removed  two  of  the  great  jars,  filled 
with  golden  coin  and  precious  stones.  The  water-carrier  bore 
them  up  one  by  one  upon  his  shoulders,  but  though  a  strong- 
backed  little  man,  and  accustomed  to  carry  burdens,  he  stag 
gered  beneath  their  weight,  and  found,  when  slung  on  each  side 
of  his  donkey,  they  were  as  much  as  the  animal  could  bear. 

"Let  us  be  content  for  the  present,"  said  the  Moor;  "here 
is  as  much  treasure  as  we  can  carry  off  without  being  perceived, 
and  enough  to  make  us  all  wealthy  to  our  heart's  desire." 

"  Is  there  more  treasure  remaining  behind  1 "  demanded  the 
alcalde. 

"The  greatest  prize  of  all,"  said  the  Moor,  "a  huge  coffer 
bound  with  bauds  of  steel,  and  filled  with  pearls  and  precious 
stones." 

"Let  us  have  up  the  coffer  by  all  means,"  cried  the  grasping 
alcalde. 

"I  will  descend  for  no  more,"  said  the  Moor,  doggedly; 
"  enough  is  enough  for  a  reasonable  man  —  more  is  super 
fluous." 

"And  I,"  said  the  water-carrier,  "will  bring  up  no  further 
burden  to  break  the  back  of  my  poor  donkey." 

Finding  commands,  threats,  and  entreaties  equally  vain,  the 
alcalde  turned  to  his  two  adherents.  "Aid  me,"  said  he,  "to 
bring  up  the  coffer,  and  its  contents  shall  be  divided  between 
us."  So  saying,  he  descended  the  steps,  followed  with  trem 
bling  reluctance  by  the  alguazil  and  the  barber. 

No  sooner  did  the  Moor  behold  them  fairly  earthed  than  he 
extinguished  the  yellow  taper;  the  pavement  closed  with  its 
usual  crash,  and  the  three  worthies  remained  buried  in  its  womb. 

He  then  hastened  up  the  different  flight  of  steps,  nor  stopped 
until  in  the  open  air.  The  little  water-carrier  followed  him  as 
fast  as  his  short  legs  would  permit. 


220  THE    ALHAMBRA 

"What  hast  thou  done?"  cried  Peregil,  as  soon  as  he  could 
recover  breath.  "  The  alcalde  and  the  other  two  are  shut  up 
in  the  vault." 

"It  is  the  will  of  Allah !  "  said  the  Moor,  devoutly. 

"And  will  you  not  release  them1?"  demanded  the  Gallego. 

"  Allah  forbid ! "  replied  the  Moor,  smoothing  his  beard. 
"  It  is  written  in  the  book  of  fate  that  they  shall  remain  en 
chanted  until  some  future  adventurer  arrive  to  break  the  charm. 
The  will  of  God  be  done !  "  So  saying,  he  hurled  the  end  of  the 
waxen  taper  far  among  the  gloomy  thickets  of  the  glen. 

There  was  now  no  remedy;  so  the  Moor  and  the  water-carrier 
proceeded  with  the  richly  laden  donkey  towards  the  city,  nor 
could  honest  Peregil  refrain  from  hugging  and  kissing  his  long- 
eared  fellow-laborer,  thus  restored  to  him  from  the  clutches  of 
the  law;  and,  in  fact,  it  is  doubtful  which  gave  the  simple- 
hearted  little  man  most  joy  at  the  moment,  the  gaining  of  the 
treasure,  or  the  recovery  of  the  donkey. 

The  two  partners  in  good  luck  divided  their  spoil  amicably 
and  fairly,  except  that  the  Moor,  who  had  a  little  taste  for 
trinketry,  made  out  to  get  into  his  heap  the  most  of  the  pearls 
and  precious  stones  and  other  baubles,  but  then  he  always  gave 
the  water-carrier  in  lieu  magnificent  jewels  of  massy  gold,  of 
five  times  the  size,  with  which  the  latter  was  heartily  content. 
They  took  care  not  to  linger  within  reach  of  accidents,  but 
made  off  to  enjoy  their  wealth  undisturbed  in  other  countries. 
The  Moor  returned  to  Africa,  to  his  native  city  of  Tangiers,  and 
the  Gallego,  with  his  wife,  his  children,  and  his  donkey,  made  the 
best  of  his  way  to  Portugal.  Here,  under  the  admonition 
and  tuition  of  his  wife,  he  became  a  personage  of  some  conse 
quence,  for  she  made  the  worthy  little  man  array  his  long  body 
and  short  legs  in  doublet  and  hose,  with  a  feather  in  his  hat 
and  a  sword  by  his  side,  and  laying  aside  his  familiar  appellation 
of  Peregil,  assume  the  more  sonorous  title  of  Don  Pedro  Gil; 
his  progeny  grew  up  a  thriving  and  merry-hearted,  though  short 


THE    TOWER    OF   LAS    INFANTAS  221 

and  bandy-legged  generation,  while  Senora  Gil,  befringed,  be- 
laced,  and  betasselled  from  her  head  to  her  heels,  with  glittering 
rings  on  every  finger,  became  a  model  of  slattern  fashion  and 
finery. 

As  to  the  alcalde  and  his  adjuncts,  they  remained  shut  up 
under  the  great  tower  of  the  seven  floors,  and  there  they  remain 
spellbound  at  the  present  day.  Whenever  there  shall  be  a  lack 
in  Spain  of  pimping  barbers,  sharking  alguazils,  and  corrupt 
alcaldes,  they  may  be  sought  after;  but  if  they  have  to  wait 
until  such  time  for  their  deliverance,  there  is  danger  of  their 
enchantment  enduring  until  doomsday. 


THE   TOWER   OF   LAS   INFANTAS 

IN  an  evening's  stroll  up  a  narrow  glen,  overshadowed  by  fig- 
trees,  pomegranates,  and  myrtles,  which  divides  the  lands  of  the 
fortress  from  those  of  the  Generalife,  I  was  struck  with  the  ro 
mantic  appearance  of  a  Moorish  tower  in  the  outer  wall  of  the 
Alhambra,  rising  high  above  the  tree-tops,  and  catching  the 
ruddy  rays  of  the  setting  sun.  A  solitary  window  at  a  great 
height  commanded  a  view  of  the  glen ;  and  as  I  was  regarding 
it,  a  young  female  looked  out,  with  her  head  adorned  with  flow 
ers.  She  was  evidently  superior  to  the  usual  class  of  people 
inhabiting  the  old  towers  of  the  fortress;  and  this  sudden 
and  picturesque  glimpse  of  her  reminded  me  of  the  descriptions 
of  captive  beauties  in  fairy  tales.  These  fanciful  associations 
were  increased  on  being  informed  by  my  attendant  Mateo,  that 
this  was  the  Tower  of  the  Princesses  (La  Torre  de  las  Infantas) ; 
so  called,  from  having  been,  according  to  tradition,  the  residence 
of  the  daughters  of  the  Moorish  kings.  I  have  since  visited  the 
tower.  It  is  not  generally  shown  to  strangers,  though  well 
worthy  of  attention,  for  the  interior  is  equal,  for  beauty  of 
architecture  and  delicacy  of  ornament,  to  any  part  of  the  pal- 


222  THE    ALHAMBRA 

ace.  The  elegance  of  the  central  hall,  with  its  marble  fountain, 
its  lofty  arches,  and  richly  fretted  dome ;  the  arabesques  and 
stucco-work  of  the  small  but  well-proportioned  chambers,  though 
injured  by  time  and  neglect,  all  accord  with  the  story  of  its  be 
ing  anciently  the  abode  of  royal  beauty. 

The  little  old  fairy  queen  who  lives  under  the  staircase  of 
the  Alhambra,  and  frequents  the  evening  tertulias  of  Dame  An 
tonio,  tells  some  fanciful  traditions  about  three  Moorish  prin 
cesses  who  were  once  shut  up  in  this  tower  by  their  father,  a 
tyrant  king  of  Granada,  and  were  only  permitted  to  ride  out  at 
night  about  the  hills,  when  no  one  was  permitted  to  come  in 
their  way  under  the  pain  of  death.  They,  still,  according  to 
her  account,  may  be  seen  occasionally  when  the  moon  is  in  the 
full,  riding  in  lonely  places  along  the  mountain-side,  on  palfreys 
richly  caparisoned  and  sparkling  with  jewels,  but  they  vanish 
on  being  spoken  to. 

But  before  I  relate  anything  further  respecting  these  prin 
cesses,  the  reader  may  be  anxious  to  know  something  about  the 
fair  inhabitant  of  the  tower,  with  her  head  dressed  with  flowers, 
who  looked  out  from  the  lofty  window.  She  proved  to  be  the 
newly  married  spouse  of  the  worthy  adjutant  of  invalids ;  who, 
though  well  stricken  in  years,  had  had  the  courage  to  take  to 
his  bosom  a  young  and  buxom  Andalusian  damsel.  May  the 
good  old  cavalier  be  happy  in  his  choice,  and  find  the  Tower  of 
the  Princesses  a  more  secure  residence  for  female  beauty  than 
it  seems  to  have  proved  in  the  time  of  the  Moslems,  if  we  may 
believe  the  following  legend  ! 


LEGEND     OF     THE     THREE     BEAUTIFUL 
PRINCESSES 

IN  old  times  there  reigned  a  Moorish  king  in  Granada,  whose 
name  was  Mohamed,  to  which  his  subjects  added  the  appellation 


LEGEND    OF    THE    THREE    PRINCESSES  223 

of  El  Hayzari,  or  "  The  Left-handed."  Some  say  he  was  so 
called  on  account  of  his  being  really  more  expert  with  his  sinis 
ter  than  his  dexter  hand  ;  others,  because  he  was  prone  to  take 
everything  by  the  wrong  end,  or,  in  other  words,  to  mar  where- 
ever  he  meddled.  Certain  it  is,  either  through  misfortune  or 
mismanagement,  he  was  continually  in  trouble  :  thrice  was  he 
driven  from  his  throne,  and  on  one  occasion  barely  escaped  to 
Africa  with  his  life,  in  the  disguise  of  a  fisherman.1  Still  he 
was  as  brave  as  he  was  blundering ;  and  though  left-handed, 
wielded  his  cimeter  to  such  purpose,  that  he  each  time  reestab 
lished  himself  upon  his  throne  by  dint  of  hard  fighting.  Instead, 
however,  of  learning  wisdom  from  adversity,  he  hardened  his 
neck,  and  stiffened  his  left  arm  in  wilfulness.  The  evils  of  a  pub 
lic  nature  which  he  thus  brought  upon  himself  and  his  kingdom 
may  be  learned  by  those  who  will  delve  into  the  Arabian  annals 
of  Granada;  the  present  legend  deals  but  with  his  domestic  policy. 

As  this  Mohamed  was  one  day  riding  forth  with  a  train  of 
his  courtiers,  by  the  foot  of  the  mountain  of  Elvira  he  met  a 
band  of  horsemen  returning  from  a  foray  into  the  land  of  the 
Christians.  They  were  conducting  a  long  string  of  mules  laden 
with  spoil,  and  many  captives  of  both  sexes,  among  whom  the 
monarch  was  struck  with  the  appearance  of  a  beautiful  damsel, 
richly  attired,  who  sat  weeping  on  a  low  palfrey,  and  heeded 
not  the  consoling  words  of  a  duenna  who  rode  beside  her. 

The  monarch  was  struck  with  her  beauty,  and,  on  inquiring 
of  the  captain  of  the  troop,  found  that  she  was  the  daughter  of 
the  alcayde  of  a  frontier  fortress,  that  had  been  surprised  and 
sacked  in  the  course  of  the  foray.  Mohamed  claimed  her  as  his 
royal  share  of  the  booty,  and  had  her  conveyed  to  his  harem  in 
the  Alhambra.  There  everything  was  devised  to  soothe-  her 
melancholy ;  and  the  monarch,  more  and  more  enamored,  sought 
to  make  her  his  queen.  The  Spanish  maid  at  first  repulsed  his 
addresses  :  he  was  an  infidel ;  he  was  the  open  foe  of  her  coun 
try  ;  what  was  worse,  he  was  stricken  in  years  ! 


224  THE    ALHAMBRA 

The  monarch,  finding  his  assiduities  of  no  avail,  determined 
to  enlist  in  his  favor  the  duenna,  who  had  been  captured  with 
the  lady.  She  was  an  Andalusian  by  birth,  whose  Christian 
name  is  forgotten,  being  mentioned  in  Moorish  legend  by  no 
other  appellation  than  that  of  the  discreet  Kadiga ;  and  discreet 
in  truth  she  was,  as  her  whole  history  makes  evident.  No 
sooner  had  the  Moorish  king  held  a  little  private  conversation 
with  her,  than  she  saw  at  once  the  cogency  of  his  reasoning, 
and  undertook  his  cause  with  her  younglnistress. 

"  Go  to,  now ! "  cried  she ;  "  what  is  there  in  all  this  to 
weep  and  wail  about  ?  Is  it  not  better  to  be  mistress  of  this 
beautiful  palace,  with  all  its  gardens  and  fountains,  than  to  be 
shut  up  within  your  father's  old  frontier  tower?  As  to  this 
Mohamed  being  an  infidel,  what  is  that  to  the  purpose  1  You 
marry  him,  not  his  religion ;  and  if  he  is  waxing  a  little  old, 
the  sooner  will  you  be  a  widow,  and  mistress  of  yourself;  at 
any  rate,  you  are  in  his  power,  and  must  either  be  a  queen  or 
a  slave.  When  in  the  hands  of  a  robber,  it  is  better  to  sell 
one's  merchandise  for  a  fair  price,  than  to  have  it  taken  by 
main  force." 

The  arguments  of  the  discreet  Kadiga  prevailed.  The  Span 
ish  lady  dried  her  tears,  and  became  the  spouse  of  Mohamed 
the  Left-handed ;  she  even  conformed,  in  appearance,  to  the 
faith  of  her  royal  husband ;  and  her  discreet  duenna  immedi 
ately  became  a  zealous  convert  to  the  Moslem  doctrines  :  it 
was  then  the  latter  received  the  Arabian  name  of  Kadiga,  and 
was  permitted  to  remain  in  the  confidential  employ  of  her 
mistress. 

In  due  process  of  time  the  Moorish  king  was  made  the  proud 
and  happy  father  of  three  lovely  daughters,  all  born  at  a  birth  : 
he  could  have  wished  they  had  been  sons,  but  consoled  himself 
with  the  idea  that  three  daughters  at  a  birth  were  pretty  well 
for  a  man  somewhat  stricken  in  years,  and  left-handed  ! 

As  usual  with  all  Moslem  monarchs,  he  summoned  his  astrolo- 


THE    DISCREET   KADIGA  225 

gers  on  this  happy  event.  They  cast  the  nativities  of  the  three 
princesses,  and  shook  their  heads.  "  Daughters,  0  king  !  "  said 
they,  "are  always  precarious  property;  but  these  will  most 
need  your  watchfulness  when  they  arrive  at  a  marriageable  age ; 
at  that  time  gather  them  under  your  wings,  and  trust  them  to 
no  other  guardianship." 

Mohamed  the  Left-handed  was  acknowledged  to  be  a  wise 
king  by  his  courtiers,  and  was  certainly  so  considered  by  him 
self.  The  prediction  of  the  astrologers  caused  him  but  little 
disquiet,  trusting  to  his  ingenuity  to  guard  his  daughters  and 
outwit  the  Fates. 

The  threefold  birth  was  the  last  matrimonial  trophy  of  the 
monarch  ;  his  queen  bore  him  no  more  children,  and  died  within 
a  few  years,  bequeathing  her  infant  daughters  to  his  love,  and 
to  the  fidelity  of  the  discreet  Kadiga. 

Many  years  had  yet  to  elapse  before  the  princesses  would 
arrive  at  that  period  of  danger  —  the  marriageable  age.  "It 
is  good,  however,  to  be  cautious  in  time,"  said  the  shrewd 
monarch  ;  so  he  determined  to  have  them  reared  in  the  royal 
castle  of  Salobrena.  This  was  a  sumptuous  palace,  incrusted, 
as  it  were,  in  a  powerful  Moorish  fortress  on  the  summit  of  a 
hill  overlooking  the  Mediterranean  sea.  It  was  a  royal  retreat, 
in  which  the  Moslem  monarchs  shut  up  such  of  their  relatives 
as  might  endanger  their  safety ;  allowing  them  all  kinds  of 
luxuries  and  amusements,  in  the  midst  of  which  they  passed 
their  lives  in  voluptuous  indolence. 

Here  the  princesses  remained,  immured  from  the  world,  but 
surrounded  by  enjoyment,  and  attended  by  female  slaves  who 
anticipated  their  wishes.  They  had  delightful  gardens  for  their 
recreation,  filled  with  the  rarest  fruits  and  flowers,  with  an> 
matic  groves  and  perfumed  baths.  On  three  sides  the  castle 
looked  down  upon  a  rich  valley,  enamelled  with  all  kinds  of 
culture,  and  bounded  by  the  lofty  Alpuxarra  mountains;  on 
the  other  side  it  overlooked  the  broad  sunny  sea. 


226  THE    ALHAMBRA 

In  this  delicious  abode,  in  a  propitious  climate,  and  under  a 
cloudless  sky,  the  three  princesses  grew  up  into  wondrous 
beauty ;  but,  though  all  reared  alike,  they  gave  early  tokens  of 
diversity  of  character.  Their  names  were  Zayda,  Zorayda,  and 
Zorahayda ;  and  such  was  their  order  of  seniority,  for  there  had 
been  precisely  three  minutes  between  their  births. 

Zayda,  the  eldest,  was  of  an  intrepid  spirit,  and  took  the 
lead  of  her  sisters  in  everything,  as  she  had  done  in  entering 
into  the  world.  She  was  curious  and  inquisitive,  and  fond  of 
getting  at  the  bottom  of  things. 

Zorayda  had  a  great  feeling  for  beauty,  which  was  the  reason, 
no  doubt,  of  her  delighting  to  regard  her  own  image  in  a  mirror 
or  a  fountain,  and  of  her  fondness  for  flowers,  and  jewels,  and 
other  tasteful  ornaments. 

As  to  Zorahayda,  the  youngest,  she  was  soft  and  timid,  and 
extremely  sensitive,  with  a  vast  deal  of  disposable  tenderness, 
as  was  evident  from  her  number  of  pet-flowers,  and  pet-birds, 
and  pet-animals,  all  of  which  she  cherished  with  the  fondest 
care.  Her  amusements,  too,  were  of  a  gentle  nature,  and 
mixed  up  with  musing  and  reverie.  She  would  sit  for  hours 
in  a  balcony,  gazing  on  the  sparkling  stars  of  a  summer's  night, 
or  on  the  sea  when  lit  up  by  the  moon ;  and  at  such  times,  the 
song  of  a  fisherman,  faintly  heard  from  the  beach,  or  the  notes 
of  a  Moorish  flute  from  some  gliding  bark,  sufficed  to  elevate 
her  feelings  into  ecstasy.  The  least  uproar  of  the  elements, 
however,  filled  her  with  dismay;  and  a  clap  of  thunder  was 
enough  to  throw  her  into  a  swoon. 

Years  rolled  on  smoothly  and  serenely ;  the  discreet  Kadiga, 
to  whom  the  princesses  were  confided,  was  faithful  to  her  trust, 
and  attended  them  with  unremitting  care. 

The  castle  of  Salobrena,  as  has  been  said,  was  built  upon  a 
hill  on  the  sea-coast.  One  of  the  exterior  walls  straggled  down 
the  profile  of  the  hill,  until  it  reached  a  jutting  rock  overhang 
ing  the  sea,  with  a  narrow  sandy  beach  at  its  foot,  laved  by 


THE    THREE    CAVALIERS  227 

the  rippling  billows.  A  small  watch-tower  on  this  rock  had 
been  fitted  up  as  a  pavilion,  with  latticed  windows  to  admit 
the  sea-breeze.  Here  the  princesses  used  to  pass  the  sultry 
hours  of  mid-day. 

The  curious  Zayda  was  one  day  seated  at  a  window  of  the 
pavilion,  as  her  sisters,  reclining  on  ottomans,  were  taking  the 
siesta  or  noontide  slumber.  Her  attention  was  attracted  to  a 
galley  which  came  coasting  along,  with  measured  strokes  of 
the  oar.  As  it  drew  near,  she  observed  that  it  was  filled  with 
armed  men.  The  galley  anchored  at  the  foot  of  the  tower :  a 
number  of  Moorish  soldiers  landed  on  the  narrow  beach,  con 
ducting  several  Christian  prisoners.  The  curious  Zayda  awak 
ened  her  sisters,  and  all  three  peeped  cautiously  through  the 
close  jalousies  of  the  lattice  which  screened  them  from  sight. 
Among  the  prisoners  were  three  Spanish  cavaliers,  richly  dressed. 
They  were  in  the  flower  of  youth,  and  of  noble  presence ;  and 
the  lofty  manner  in  which  they  carried  themselves,  though 
loaded  with  chains  and  surrounded  with  enemies,  bespoke  the 
grandeur  of  their  souls.  The  princesses  gazed  with  intense 
and  breathless  interest.  Cooped  up  as  they  had  been  in  this 
castle  among  female  attendants,  seeing  nothing  of  the  male  sex 
but  black  slaves,  or  the  rude  fisherman  of  the  sea-coast,  it  is  not 
to  be  wondered  at  that  the  appearance  of  three  gallant  cav 
aliers,  in  the  pride  of  youth  and  manly  beauty,  should  produce 
some  commotion  in  their  bosom. 

"  Did  ever  nobler  being  tread  the  earth  than  that  cavalier 
in  crimson?"  cried  .Zayda,  the  eldest  of  the  sisters.  "See 
how  proudly  he  bears  himself,  as  though  all  around  him  were 
his  slaves  ! " 

"  But  notice  that  one  in  green  ! "  exclaimed  Zorayda.  "  What 
grace  !  what  elegance  !  what  spirit !  " 

The  gentle  Zorahayda  said  nothing,  but  she  secretly  gave 
preference  to  the  cavalier  in  blue. 

The  princesses  remained  gazing  until  the  prisoners  were  out 


228  THE    ALHAMBRA 

of  sight, .then  heaving  long-drawn  sighs,  they  turned  round, 
looked  at  each  other  for  a  moment,  and  sat  down,  musing  and 
pensive,  on  their  ottomans. 

The  discreet  Kadiga  found  them  in  this  situation ;  they 
related  what  they  had  seen,  and  even  the  withered  heart  of 
the  duenna  was  warmed.  "  Poor  youths  !"  exclaimed  she,  "  I'll 
warrant  their  captivity  makes  many  a  fair  and  high-born  lady's 
heart  ache  in  their  native  land  !  Ah  !  my  children,  you  have 
little  idea  of  the  life  these  cavaliers  lead  in  their  own  country. 
Such  prankling  at  tournaments  !  such  devotion  to  the  ladies  ! 
such  courting  and  serenading  !  " 

The  curiosity  of  Zayda  was  fully  aroused  ;  she  was  insatiable 
in  her  inquiries,  and  drew  from  the  duenna  the  most  ani 
mated  pictures  of  the  scenes  of  her  youthful  days  and  native 
land.  The  beautiful  Zorayda  bridled  up,  and  slyly  regarded 
herself  in  a  mirror,  when  the  theme  turned  upon  the  charms  of 
the  Spanish  ladies ;  while  Zorahayda  suppressed  a  struggling 
sigh  at  the  mention  of  moonlight  serenades. 

Every  day  the  curious  Zayda  renewed  her  inquiries,  and 
every  day  the  sage  duenna  repeated  her  stories,  which  were 
listened  to  with  profound  interest,  though  with  frequent  sighs, 
by  her  gentle  auditors.  The  discreet  old  woman  awoke  at 
length  to  the  mischief  she  might  be  doing.  She  had  been 
accustomed  to  think  of  the  princesses  only  as  children ;  but 
they  had  imperceptibly  ripened  beneath  her  eye,  and  now 
bloomed  before  her  three  lovely  damsels  of  the  marriageable 
age.  It  is  time,  thought  the  duenna,  to  give  notice  to  the  king. 

Mohamed  the  Left-handed  was  seated  one  morning  on  a 
divan  in  a  cool  hall  of  the  Alhambra,  when  a  slave  arrived 
from  the  fortress  of  Salobrena,  with  a  message  from  the  sage 
Kadiga,  congratulating  him  on  the  anniversary  of  his  daughters' 
birth -day.  The  slave  at  the  same  time  presented  a  delicate 
little  basket  decorated  with  flowers,  within  which,  on  a  couch 
of  vine  and  fig-leaves,  lay  a  peach,  an  apricot,  and  a  nectarine, 


THE   EMBLEMATICAL    OFFERING  229 

with  their  bloom  and  down  and  dewy  sweetness  upon  them, 
and  all  in  the  early  stage  of  tempting  ripeness.  The  monarch 
was  versed  in  the  Oriental  language  of  fruits  and  flowers,  and 
rapidly  divined  the  meaning  of  this  emblematical  offering. 

"So,"  said  he,  "the  critical  period  pointed  out  by  the 
astrologers  is  arrived :  my  daughters  are  at  a  marriageable 
age.  What  is  to  be  done?  They  are  shut  up  from  the  eyes 
of  men  ;  they  are  under  the  eyes  of  the  discreet  Kadiga,  —  all 
very  good,  —  but  still  they  are  not  under  my  own  eye,  as  was 
prescribed  by  the  astrologers :  I  must  gather  them  under  my 
wing,  and  trust  to  no  other  guardianship." 

So  saying,  he  ordered  that  a  tower  of  the  Alhambra  should 
be  prepared  for  their  reception,  and  departed  at  the  head  of  his 
guards  for  the  fortress  of  Salobrena,  to  conduct  them  home  in 
person. 

About  three  years  had  elapsed  since  Mohamed  had  beheld 
his  daughters,  and  he  could  scarcely  credit  his  eyes  at  the 
wonderful  change  which  that  small  space  of  time  had  made 
in  their  appearance.  During  the  interval,  they  had  passed 
that  wondrous  boundary  line  in  female  life  which  separates  the 
crude,  unformed,  and  thoughtless  girl  from  the  blooming,  blush 
ing  meditative  woman.  It  is  like  passing  from  the  flat, 
bleak,  uninteresting  plains  of  La  Mancha  to  the  voluptuous 
valleys  and  swelling  hills  of  Andalusia. 

Zayda  was  tall  and  finely  formed,  with  a  lofty  demeanor 
and  a  penetrating  eye.  She  entered  with  a  stately  and  de 
cided*  step,  and  made  a  profound  reverence  to  Mohamed,  treat 
ing  him  more  as  her  sovereign  than  her  father.  Zorayda  was 
of  the  middle  height,  with  an  alluring  look  and  swimming  gait, 
and  a  sparkling  beauty,  heightened  by  the  assistance  of  the 
toilette.  She  approached  her  father  with  a  smile,  kissed  his 
hand,  and  saluted  him  with  several  stanzas  from  a  popular 
Arabian  poet,  with  which  the  monarch  was  delighted.  Zora- 
hayda  was  shy  and  timid,  smaller  than  her  sisters,  and  with  a 


230  THE    ALHAMBRA 

beauty  of  that  tender  beseeching  kind  which  looks  for  fondness 
and  protection.  She  was  little  fitted  to  command,  like  her 
elder  sister,  or  to  dazzle  like  the  second,  but  was  rather  formed 
to  creep  to  the  bosom  of  manly  affection,  to  nestle  within  it, 
and  be  content.  She  drew  near  to  her  father,  with  a  timid 
and  almost  faltering  step,  and  would  have  taken  his  hand  to 
kiss,  but  on  looking  up  into  his  face,  and  seeing  it  beaming 
with  a  paternal  smile,  the  tenderness  of  her  nature  broke  forth, 
and  she  threw  herself  upon  his  neck. 

Mohamed  the  Left-handed  surveyed  his  blooming  daughters 
with  mingled  pride  and  perplexity,  for  while  he  exulted  in  their 
charms,  he  bethought  himself  of  the  prediction  of  the  astrologers. 
"Three  daughters!  three  daughters!"  muttered  he  repeatedly 
to  himself,  "  and  all  of  a  marriageable  age  !  Here's  tempting 
Hesperian  fruit,  that  requires  a  dragon  watch  ! " 

He  prepared  for  his  return  to  Granada,  by  sending  heralds 
before  him,  commanding  every  one  to  keep  out  of  the  road  by 
which  he  was  to  pass,  and  that  all  doors  and  windows  should 
be  closed  at  the  approach  of  the  princesses.  This  done,  he  set 
forth,  escorted  by  a  troop  of  black  horsemen  of  hideous  aspect, 
and  clad  in  shining  armor. 

The  princesses  rode  beside  the  king,  closely  veiled,  on  beauti 
ful  white  palfreys,  with  velvet  caparisons,  embroidered  with  gold, 
and  sweeping  the  ground ;  the  bits  and  stirrups  were  of  gold, 
and  the  silken  bridles  adorned  with  pearls  and  precious  stones. 
The  palfreys  were  covered  with  little  silver  bells,  which  made 
the  most  musical  tinkling  as  they  ambled  gently  along.  '  Woe 
to  the  unlucky  wight,  however,  who  lingered  in  the  way  when 
he  heard  the  tinkling  of  these  bells  !  —  the  guards  were  ordered 
to  cut  him  down  without  mercy. 

The  cavalcade  was  drawing  near  to  Granada,  when  it  over 
took,  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Xenil,  a  small  body  of  Moorish 
soldiers  with  a  convoy  of  prisoners.  It  was  too  late  for  the 
soldiers  to  get  out  of  the  way,  so  they  threw  themselves  on 


JOURNEY    TO    GRANADA  231 

their  faces  on  the  earth,  ordering  their  captives  to  do  the  like. 
Among  the  prisoners  were  the  three  identical  cavaliers  whom 
the  princesses  had  seen  from  the  pavilion.  They  either  did  not 
understand,  or  were  too  haughty  to  obey  the  order,  and  re 
mained  standing  and  gazing  upon  the  cavalcade  as  it  approached. 

The  ire  of  the  monarch  was  kindled  at  this  flagrant  defiance 
of  his  orders.  Drawing  his  cimeter,  and  pressing  forward,  he  was 
about  to  deal  a  left-handed  blow  that  might  have  been  fatal  to 
at  least  one  of  the  gazers,  when  the  princesses  crowded  round 
him,  and  implored  mercy  for  the  prisoners ;  even  the  timid 
Zorahayda  forget  her  shyness  and  became  eloquent  in  their 
behalf.  Moharned  paused,  with  uplifted  cimeter,  when  the 
captain  of  the  guard  threw  himself  at  his  feet.  "  Let  not  your 
highness,"  said  he,  "do  a  deed  that  may  cause  great  scandal 
throughout  the  kingdom.  These  are  three  brave  and  noble 
Spanish  knights,  who  have  been  taken  in  battle,  fighting  like 
lions ;  they  are  of  high  birth,  and  may  bring  great  ransoms."  — 
"  Enough  !  "  said  the  king.  "  I  will  spare  their  lives,  but  pun 
ish  their  audacity  —  let  them  be  taken  to  the  Vermilion  Towers, 
and  put  to  hard  labor." 

Mohamed  was  making  one  of  his  usual  left-handed  blunders. 
In  the  tumult  and  agitation  of  this  blustering  scene,  the  veils 
of  the  three  princesses  had  been  thrown  back,  and  the  radiance 
of  their  beauty  revealed ;  and  in  prolonging  the  parley,  the 
king  had  given  that  beauty  time  to  have  its  full  effect.  In 
those  days  people  fell  in  love  much  more  suddenly  than  at 
present,  as  all  ancient  stories  make  manifest :  it  is  not  a  matter 
of  wonder,  therefore,  that  the  hearts  of  the  three  cavaliers  were 
completely  captured ;  especially  as  gratitude  was  added  to 
their  admiration ;  it  is  a  little  singular,  however,  though  no 
less  certain,  that  each  of  them  was  enraptured  with  a  several 
beauty.  As  to  the  princesses,  they  were  more  than  ever  struck 
with  the  noble  demeanor  of  the  captives,  and  cherished  in  their 
breasts  all  that  they  had  heard  of  their  valor  and  noble  lineage. 


232  THE    ALHAMBRA 

The  cavalcade  resumed  its  march ;  the  three  princesses  rode 
pensively  along  on  their  tinkling  palfreys,  now  and  then  stealing 
a  glance  behind  in  search  of  the  Christian  captives,  and  the  latter 
were  conducted  to  their  allotted  prison  in  the  Vermilion  Towers. 

The  residence  provided  for  the  princesses  was  one  of  the 
most  dainty  that  fancy  could  devise.  It  was  in  a  tower  some 
what  apart  from  the  main  palace  of  the  Alhambra,  though  con 
nected  with  it  by  the  wall  which  encircled  the  whole  summit  of 
the  hill.  On  one  side  it  looked  into  the  interior  of  the  fortress, 
and  had,  at  its  foot,  a  small  garden  filled  with  the  rarest  flowers. 
On  the  other  side  it  overlooked  a  deep  embowered  ravine  sepa 
rating  the  grounds  of  the  Alhambra  from  those  of  the  Genera- 
life.  The  interior  of  the  tower  was  divided  into  small  fairy 
apartments,  beautifully  ornamented  in  the  light  Arabian  style, 
surrounding  a  lofty  hall,  the  vaulted  roof  of  which  rose  almost 
to  the  summit  of  the  tower.  The  walls  and  the  ceilings  of  the 
hall  were  adorned  with  arabesque  and  fretwork,  sparkling  with 
gold  and  with  brilliant  pencilling.  In  the  centre  of  the  marble 
pavement  was  an  alabaster  fountain,  set  round  with  aromatic 
shrubs  and  flowers,  and  throwing  up  a  jet  of  water  that  cooled 
the  whole  edifice  and  had  a  lulling  sound.  Round  the  hall 
were  suspended  cages  of  gold  and  silver  wire,  containing  singing- 
birds  of  the  finest  plumage  or  sweetest  note. 

The  princesses  had  been  represented  as  always  cheerful 
when  in  the  Castle  of  the  Salobrena;  the  king  had  expected 
to  see  them  enraptured  with  the  Alhambra.  To  his  surprise, 
however,  they  began  to  pine,  and  grow  melancholy,  and  dissatis 
fied  with  everything  around  them.  The  flowers  yielded  them 
no  fragrance,  the  song  of  the  nightingale  disturbed  their  night's 
rest,  and  they  were  out  of  all  patience  with  the  alabaster 
fountain,  with  its  eternal  drop-drop  and  splash-splash,  from 
morning  till  night  and  from  night  till  morning. 

The  king,  who  was  somewhat  of  a  testy,  tyrannical  disposi 
tion,  took  this  at  first  in  high  dudgeon ;  but  he  reflected  that 


FEMALE    CAPRICES  233 

his  daughters  had  arrived  at  an  age  when  the  female  mind  ex 
pands  and  its  desires  augment.  "  They  are  no  longer  children," 
said  he  to  himself,  "they  are  women  grown,  and  require  suita 
ble  objects  to  interest  them."  He  put  in  requisition,  therefore, 
all  the  dressmakers,  and  the  jewellers,  and  the  artificers  in  gold 
and  silver  throughout  the  Zacatin  of  Granada,  and  the  princesses 
were  overwhelmed  with  robes  of  silk,  and  tissue,  and  brocade, 
and  cashmere  shawls,  and  necklaces  of  pearls  and  diamonds,  and 
rings,  and  bracelets,  and  anklets,  and  all  manner  of  precious 
things. 

All,  however,  was  of  no  avail ;  the  princesses  continued  pale 
and  languid  in  the  midst  of  their  finery,  and  looked  like  three 
blighted  rose-buds,  drooping  from  one  stalk.  The  king  was  at 
his  wits'  end.  He  had  in  general  a  laudable  confidence  in  his 
own  judgment,  and  never  took  advice.  "  The  whims  and  ca 
prices  of  three  marriageable  damsels,  however,  are  sufficient," 
said  he,  "  to  puzzle  the  shrewdest  head."  So  for  once  in  his 
life  he  called  in  the  aid  of  counsel. 

The  person  to  whom  he  applied  was  the  experienced  duenna. 

"  Kadiga,"  said  the  king,  "  I  know  you  to  be  one  of  the  most 
discreet  women  in  the  whole  world,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most 
trustworthy ;  for  these  reasons  I  have  always  continued  you 
about  the  persons  of  my  daughters.  Fathers  cannot  be  too 
wary  in  whom  they  repose  such  confidence ;  I  now  wish  you  to 
find  out  the  secret  malady  that  is  preying  upon  the  princesses, 
and  to  devise  some  means  of  restoring  them  to  health  and 
cheerfulness." 

Kadiga  promised  implicit  obedience.  In  fact  she  knew  more 
of  the  malady  of  the  princesses  than  they  themselves.  Shut 
ting  herself  up  with  them,  however,  she  endeavored  to  insinuate 
herself  into  their  confidence. 

"  My  dear  children,  what  is  the  reason  you  are  so  dismal  and 
downcast  in  so  beautiful  a  place,  where  you  have  everything 
that  heart  can  wish  1 " 


234  THE    ALHAMBRA 

The  princesses  looked  vacantly  round  the  apartment,  and 
sighed. 

"What  more,  then,  would  you  have?  Shall  I  get  you  the 
wonderful  parrot  that  talks  all  languages,  and  is  the  delight  of 
Granada?" 

"  Odious  !  "  exclaimed  the  princess  Zayda.  "  A  horrid,  scream 
ing  bird,  that  chatters  words  without  ideas :  one  must  be  with 
out  brains  to  tolerate  such  a  pest." 

"Shall  I  send  for  a  monkey  from  the  rock  of  Gibraltar,  to 
divert  you  with  his  antics  1 " 

"  A  monkey  !  faugh  !  "  cried  Zorayda ;  "the  detestable  mimic 
of  man.  I  hate  the  nauseous  animal." 

"  What  say  you  to  the  famous  black  singer  Casern,  from  the 
royal  harem,  in  Morocco?  They  say  he  has  a  voice  as  fine  as 
a  woman's/' 

"I  am  terrified  at  the  sight  of  these  black  slaves,"  said  the 
delicate  Zorahayda ;  "  besides,  I  have  lost  all  relish  for  music." 

"  Ah !  my  child,  you  would  not  say  so,"  replied  the  old 
woman,  slyly,  "  had  you  heard  the  music  I  heard  last  evening, 
from  the  three  Spanish  cavaliers  whom  we  met  on  our  journey. 
But  bless  me,  children !  what  is  the  matter  that  you  blush  so 
and  are  in  such  a  flutter  ? " 

"Nothing,  nothing,  good  mother;  pray  proceed." 

"  Well ;  as  I  was  passing  by  the  Vermilion  Towers  last  even 
ing,  I  saw  the  three  cavaliers  resting  after  their  day's  labor. 
One  was  playing  on  the  guitar,  so  gracefully,  and  the  others 
sang  by  turns ;  and  they  did  it  in  such  style,  that  the  very 
guards  seemed  like  statues,  or  men  enchanted.  Allah  forgive 
me !  I  could  not  help  being  moved  at  hearing  the  songs  of  my 
native  country.  And  then  to  see  three  such  noble  and  hand 
some  youths  in  chains  and  slavery !  " 

Here  the  kind-hearted  old  woman  could  not  restrain  her  tears. 

"Perhaps,  mother,  you  could  manage  to  procure  us  a  sight 
of  these  cavaliers,"  said  Zayda. 


ELOQUENCE    OF    A    GUITAR  235 

"I  think,"  said  Zorayda,  "a  little  music  would  be  quite 
reviving." 

The  timid  Zorahayda  said  nothing,  but  threw  her  arms  round 
the  neck  of  Kadiga. 

"  Mercy  on  me  !  "  exclaimed  the  discreet  old  woman,  "  what 
are  you  talking  of,  my  children?  Your  father  would  be  the 
death  of  us  all  if  he  heard  of  such  a  thing.  To  be  sure,  these 
cavaliers  are  evidently  well-bred,  and  high-minded  youths ;  but 
what  of  that  1  They  are  the  enemies  of  our  faith,  and  you  must 
not  even  think  of  them  but  with  abhorrence." 

There  is  an  admirable  intrepidity  in  the  female  will,  particu 
larly  when  about  the  marriageable  age,  which  is  not  to  be  de 
terred  by  dangers  and  prohibitions.  The  princesses  hung  round 
their  old  duenna,  and  coaxed,  and  entreated,  and  declared  that 
a  refusal  would  break  their  hearts. 

What  could  she  dot  She  was  certainly  the  most  discreet 
old  woman  in  the  whole  world,  and  one  of  the  most  faithful 
servants  to  the  king ;  but  was  she  to  see  three  beautiful  prin 
cesses  break  their  hearts  for  the  mere  tinkling  of  a  guitar? 
Besides,  though  she  had  been  so  long  among  the  Moors,  and 
changed  her  faith  in  imitation  of  her  mistress,  like  a  trusty 
follower,  yet  she  was  a  Spaniard  born,  and  had  the  lingerings 
of  Christianity  in  her  heart.  So  she  set  about  to  contrive  how 
the  wish  of  the  princesses  might  be  gratified. 

The  Christian  captives,  confined  in  the  Vermilion  Towers,  were 
under  the  charge  of  a  big-whiskered,  broad-shouldered  renegado, 
called  Hussein  Baba,  who  was  reputed  to  have  a  most  itching 
palm.  She  went  to  him  privately,  and  slipping  a  broad  piece 
of  gold  into  his  hand,  "  Hussein  Baba,"  said  she;  "my  mis 
tresses  the  three  princesses,  who  are  shut  up  in  the  tower,  and 
in  sad  want  of  amusement,  have  heard  of  the  musical  talents 
of  the  three  Spanish  cavaliers,  and  are  desirous  of  hearing  a 
specimen  of  their  skill.  I  am  sure  you  are  too  kind-hearted  to 
refuse  them  so  innocent  a  gratification." 


236  THE    ALHAMBRA 

"  What !  and  to  have  my  head  set  grinning  over  the  gate  of 
my  own  tower  !  for  that  would  be  the  reward,  if  the  king  should 
discover  it." 

"  No  danger  of  anything  of  the  kind ;  the  affair  may  be  man 
aged  so  that  the  whim  of  the  princesses  may  be  gratified,  and 
their  father  be  never  the  wiser.  You  know  the  deep  ravine 
outside  of  the  walls  which  passes  immediately  below  the  tower. 
Put  the  three  Christians  to  work  there,  and  at  the  intervals  of 
their  labor,  let  them  play  and  sing,  as  if  for  their  own  recreation. 
In  this  way  the  princesses  will  be  able  to  hear  them  from  the 
windows  of  the  tower,  and  you  may  be  sure  of  their  paying  well 
for  your  compliance." 

As  the  good  old  woman  concluded  her  harangue,  she  kindly 
pressed  the  rough  hand  of  the  renegado,  and  left  within  it 
another  piece  of  gold. 

Her  eloquence  was  irresistible.  The  very  next  day  the  three 
cavaliers  were  put  to  work  in  the  ravine.  During  the  noontide 
heat,  when  their  fellow-laborers  were  sleeping  in  the  shade,  and 
the  guard  nodding  drowsily  at  his  post,  they  seated  themselves 
among  the  herbage  at  the  foot  of  the  tower,  and  sang  a  Spanish 
roundelay  to  the  accompaniment  of  the  guitar. 

The  glen  was  deep,  the  tower  was  high,  but  their  voices  rose 
distinctly  in  the  stillness  of  the  summer  noon.  The  princesses 
listened  from  their  balcony,  they  had  been  taught  the  Spanish 
language  by  their  duenna,  and  were  moved  by  the  tenderness 
of  the  song.  The  discreet  Kadiga,  on  the  contrary,  was  terribly 
shocked.  "Allah  preserve  us!  "  cried  she,  "they  are  singing  a 
love-ditty,  addressed  to  yourselves.  Did  ever  mortal  hear  of 
such  audacity?  I  will  run  to  the  slave-master,  and  have  them 
soundly  bastinadoed." 

,"  What!  bastinado  such  gallant  cavaliers,  and  for  singing  so 
charmingly !  "  The  three  beautiful  princesses  were  filled  with 
horror  at  the  idea.  With  all  her  virtuous  indignation,  the  good 
old  woman  was  of  a  placable  nature,  and  easily  appeased.  Be- 


THE    LANGUAGE    OF   FLOWERS  237 

sides,  the  music  seemed  to  have  a  beneficial  effect  upon  her  young 
mistresses.  A  rosy  bloom  had  already  come  to  their  cheeks,  and 
their  eyes  began  to  sparkle.  She  made  no  further  objection, 
therefore,  to  the  amorous  ditty  of  the  cavaliers. 

When  it  was  finished,  the  princesses  remained  silent  for  a 
time ;  at  length  Zorayada  took  up  a  lute,  and  with  a  sweet, 
though  faint  and  trembling  voice  warbled  a  little  Arabian  air, 
the  burden  of  which  was,  "The  rose  is  concealed  among  her 
leaves,  but  she  listens  with  delight  to  the  song  of  the  nightingale." 

From  this  time  forward  the  cavaliers  worked  almost  daily  in 
the  ravine.  The  considerate  Hussein  Baba  became  more  and 
more  indulgent,  and  daily  more  prone  to  sleep  at  his  post.  For 
some  time  a  vague  intercourse  was  kept  up  by  popular  songs 
and  romances,  which  in  some  measure  responded  to  each  other, 
and  breathed  the  feelings  of  the  parties.  By  degrees  the  prin 
cesses  showed  themselves  at  the  balcony,  when  they  could  do 
so  without  being  perceived  by  the  guards.  They  conversed 
with  the  cavaliers  also,  by  means  of  flowers,  with  the  symbolical 
language  of  which  they  were  mutually  acquainted ;  the  difficul 
ties  of  their  intercourse  added  to  its  charms,  and  strengthened 
the  passion  they  had  so  singularly  conceived ;  for  love  delights 
to  struggle  with  difficulties,  and  thrives  the  most  hardily  on 
the  scantiest  soil. 

The  change  effected  in  the  looks  and  spirits  of  the  princesses 
by  this  secret  intercourse,  surprised  and  gratified  the  left-handed 
king;  but  no  one  was  more  elated  than  the  discreet  Kadiga, 
who  considered  it  all  owing  to  her  able  management. 

At  length  there  was  an  interruption  in  this  telegraphic 'cor 
respondence  ;  for  several  days  the  cavaliers  ceased  to  make  their 
appearance  in  the  glen.  The  princesses  looked  out  from  the 
tower  in  vain.  In  vain  they  stretched  their  swan-like  necks 
from  the  balcony ;  in  vain  they  sang  like  captive  nightingales  in 
their  cage :  nothing  was  to  be  seen  of  their  Christian  lovers ; 
not  a  note  responded  from  the  groves.  The  discreet  Kadiga 


238  THE    ALHAMBRA 

sallied  forth  in  quest  of  intelligence,  and  soon  returned  with  a 
face  full  of  trouble.  "  Ah,  my  children ! "  cried  she,  "  I  saw 
what  all  this  would  come  to,  but  you  would  have  your  way; 
you  may  now  hang  up  your  lutes  on  the  willows.  The  Spanish 
cavaliers  are  ransomed  by  their  families;  they  are  down  in 
Granada,  and  preparing  to  return  to  their  native  country." 

The  three  beautiful  princesses  were  in  despair  at  the  tidings. 
Zayda  was  indignant  at  the  slight  put  upon  them,  in  thus  being 
deserted  without  a  parting  word.  Zorayda  wrung  her  hands 
and  cried,  and  looked  in  the  glass,  and  wiped  away  her  tears, 
and  cried  afresh.  The  gentle  Zorahayda  leaned  over  the  bal 
cony  and  wept  in  silence,  and  her  tears  fell  drop  by  drop  among 
the  flowers  of  the  bank,  where  the  faithless  cavaliers  had  so  often 
been  seated. 

The  discreet  Kadiga  did  all  in  her  power  to  soothe  their 
sorrow.  "Take  comfort,  my  children,"  said  she,  "this  is 
nothing  when  you  are  used  to  it.  This  is  the  way  of  the 
world.  Ah  !  when  you  are  as  old  as  I  am,  you  will  know  how 
to  value  these  men.  I'll  warrant  these  cavaliers  have  their 
loves  among  the  Spanish  beauties  of  Cordova  and  Seville,  and 
will  soon  be  serenading  under  their  balconies,  and  thinking 
no  more  of  the  Moorish  beauties  in  the  Alhambra.  Take 
comfort,  therefore,  my  children,  and  drive  them  from  your 
hearts." 

The  comforting  words  of  the  discreet  Kadiga  only  redoubled 
the  distress  of  the  three  princesses,  and  for  two  days  they 
continued  inconsolable.  On  the  morning  of  the  third  the 
good  old  woman  entered  their  apartment,  all  ruffling  with 
indignation. 

"  Who  would  have  believed  such  insolence  in  mortal  man ! " 
exclaimed  she,  as  soon  as  she  could  find  words  to  express  her 
self;  "but  I  am  rightly  served  for  having  connived  at  this 
deception  of  your  worthy  father.  Never  talk  more  to  me  of 
your  Spanish  cavaliers." 


THE    AFFLICTED    DUENNA  239 

"  Why,  what  has  happened,  good  Kadiga  ? "  exclaimed  the 
princesses  in  breathless  anxiety. 

"  What  has  happened  1  —  treason  has  happened  !  or,  what 
is  almost  as  bad,  treason  has  been  proposed  ;  and  to  me,  the 
most  faithful  of  subjects,  the  trustiest  of  duennas  !  Yes,  my 
children,  the  Spanish  cavaliers  have  dared  to  tamper  with  me, 
that  I  should  persuade  you  to  fly  with  them  to  Cordova,  and 
become  their  wives  !  " 

Here  the  excellent  old  woman  covered  her  face  with  her 
hands,  and  gave  way  to  a  violent  burst  of  grief  and  indignation. 
The  three  beautiful  princesses  turned  pale  and  red,  pale  and 
red,  and  trembled,  and  looked  down,  and  cast  shy  looks  at 
each  other,  but  said  nothing.  Meantime  the  old  woman  sat 
rocking  backward  and  forward  in  violent  agitation,  and  now 
and  then  breaking  out  into  exclamations,  —  "  That  ever  I  should 
live  to  be  so  insulted  !  —  I,  the  most  faithful  of  servants  !  " 

At  length  the  eldest  princess,  who  had  most  spirit  and 
always  took  the  lead,  approached  her,  and  laying  her  hand  upon 
her  shoulder,  "Well,  mother,"  said  she,  "  supposing  we  were 
willing  to  fly  with  these  Christian  cavaliers  —  is  such  a  thing 
possible  1 " 

The  good  old  woman  paused  suddenly  in  her  grief,  and  look 
ing  up,  "Possible,"  echoed  she;  "to  be  sure  it  is  possible. 
Have  not  the  cavaliers  already  bribed  Hussein  Baba,  the  rene- 
gado  captain  of  the  guard,  and  arranged  the  whole  plan  1  But, 
then,  to  think  of  deceiving  your  father !  your  father,  who  has 
placed  such  confidence  in  me  ! "  Here  the  worthy  woman  gave 
way  to  a  fresh  burst  of  grief,  and  began  again  to  rock  backward 
and  forward,  and  to  wring  her  hands. 

"  But  our  father  has  never  placed  any  confidence  in  us,"  said 
the  eldest  princess,  "  but  has  trusted  to  bolts  and  bars,  and 
treated  us  as  captives." 

"  Why,  that  is  true  enough,"  replied  the  old  woman,  again 
pausing  in  her  grief ;  "  he  has  indeed  treated  you  most  unrea- 


240  THE    ALHAM8RA 

sonably,  keeping  you  shut  up  here,  to  waste  your  bloom  in  a 
moping  old  tower,  like  roses  left  to  wither  in  a  flower-jar.  But, 
then,  to  fly  from  your  native  land  ! " 

"  And  is  not  the  land  we  fly  to  the  native  land  of  our  mother, 
where  we  shall  live  in  freedom  1  And  shall  we  not  each  have 
a  youthful  husband  in  exchange  for  a  severe  old  father  ? " 

"  Why,  that  again  is  all  very  true ;  and  your  father,  I  must 
confess,  is  rather  tyrannical;  but  what  then,"  relapsing  into 
her  grief,  "  would  you  leave  me  behind  to  bear  the  brunt  of  his 
vengeance  1 " 

"  By  no  means,  my  good  Kadiga  ;  cannot  you  fly  with  us  1 " 

"  Very  true,  my  child  ;  and,  to  tell  the  truth,  when  I  talked 
the  matter  over  with  Hussein  Baba,  he  promised  to  take  care 
of  me,  if  I  would  accompany  you  in  your  flight ;  but  then,  be 
think  you,  my  children,  are  you  willing  to  renounce  the  faith 
of  your  father  1 " 

"The  Christian  faith  was  the  original  faith  of  our  mother," 
said  the  eldest  princess;  "I  am  ready  to  embrace  it,  and  so,  I 
am  sure,  are  my  sisters." 

"Eight  again,"  exclaimed  the  old  woman,  brightening  up; 
"  it  was  the  original  faith  of  your  mother,  and  bitterly  did  she 
lament,  on  her  death-bed,  that  she  had  renounced  it.  I  prom 
ised  her  then  to  take  care  of  your  souls,  and  I  rejoice  to  see 
that  they  are  now  in  a  fair  way  to  be  saved.  Yes,  my  children, 
I  too  was  born  a  Christian,  and  have  remained  a  Christian  in 
my  heart,  and  am  resolved  to  return  to  the  faith.  I  have 
talked  on  the  subject  with  Hussein  Baba,  who  is  a  Spaniard  by 
birth,  and  comes  from  a  place  not  far  from  my  native  town. 
He  is  equally  anxious  to  see  his  own  country,  and  to  be  recon 
ciled  to  the  Church ;  and  the  cavaliers  have  promised  that,  if 
we  are  disposed  to  become  man  and  wife,  on  returning  to  our 
native  land,  they  will  provide  for  us  handsomely." 

In  a  word  it  appeared  that  this  extremely  discreet  and  provi 
dent  old  woman  had  consulted  with  the  cavaliers  and  the  rene- 


THE    ARRANGEMENT  241 

gado,  and  had  concerted  the  whole  plan  of  escape.  The  eldest 
princess  immediately  assented  to  it ;  and  her  example,  as  usual, 
determined  the  conduct  of  her  sisters.  It  is  true  the  youngest 
hesitated,  for  she  was  gentle  and  timid  of  soul,  and  there  was  a 
struggle  in  her  bosom  between  filial  feeling  and  youthful  pas 
sion  :  the  latter,  however,  as  usual,  gained  the  victory,  and  with 
silent  tears  and  stifled  sighs  she  prepared  herself  for  flight. 

The  rugged  hill  on  which  the  Alhambra  is  built  was,  in  old 
times,  perforated  with  subterranean  passages,  cut  through  the 
rock,  and  leading  from  the  fortress  to  various  parts  of  the  city, 
and  to  distant  sally-ports  on  the  banks  of  the  Darro  and  the 
Xenil.  They  had  been  constructed  at  different  times  by  the 
Moorish  kings,  as  means  of  escape  from  sudden  insurrections, 
or  of  secretly  issuing  forth  on  private  enterprises.  Many  of 
them  are  now  entirely  lost,  while  others  remain,  partly  choked 
with  rubbish,  and  partly  walled  up,  — monuments  of  the  jealous 
precautions  and  warlike  stratagems  of  the  Moorish  government. 
By  one  of  these  passages  Hussein  Baba  had  undertaken  to  con 
duct  the  princesses  to  a  sally-port  beyond  the  walls  of  the  city, 
where  the  cavaliers  were  to  be  ready,  with  fleet  steeds,  to  bear 
the  whole  party  over  the  borders. 

The  appointed  night  arrived  ;  the  tower  of  the  princesses 
had  been  locked  up  as  usual,  and  the  Alhambra  was  buried  in 
deep  sleep.  Towards  midnight  the  discreet  Kadiga  listened 
from  the  balcony  of  a  window  that  looked  into  the  garden. 
Hussein  Baba,  the  renegado,  was  already  below,  and  gave  the 
appointed  signal.  The  duenna  fastened  the  end  of  a  ladder  of 
ropes  to  the  balcony,  lowered  it  into  the  garden  and  descended. 
The  two  eldest  princesses  followed  her  with  beating  hearts  ; 
but  when  it  came  to  the  turn  of  the  youngest  princess,  Zora- 
hayda,  she  hesitated  and  trembled.  Several  times  she  ventured 
a  delicate  little  foot  upon  the  ladder,  and  as  often  drew  it  back, 
while  her  poor  little  heart  fluttered  more  and  more  the  longer 
she  delayed.  She  cast  a  wistful  look  back  into  the  silken 


242  THE   ALHAMBRA 

chamber ;  she  had  lived  in  it,  to  be  sure,  like  a  bird  in  a  cage ; 
but  within  it  she  was  secure ;  who  could  tell  what  dangers 
might  beset  her,  should  she  flutter  forth  into  the  wide  world  ! 
Now  she  bethought  her  of  her  gallant  Christian  lover,  and  her 
little  foot  was  instantly  upon  the  ladder ;  and  anon  she  thought 
of  her  father,  and  shrank  back.  But  fruitless  is  the  attempt 
to  describe  the  conflict  in  the  bosom  of  one  so  young  and  ten 
der  and  loving,  but  so  timid  and  so  ignorant  of  the  world. 

In  vain  her  sisters  implored,  the  duenna  scolded,  and  the 
renegado  blasphemed  beneath  the  balcony :  the  gentle  little 
Moorish  maid  stood  doubting  and  wavering  on  the  verge  of 
elopement ;  tempted  by  the  sweetness  of  the  sin,  but  terrified 
at  its  perils. 

Every  moment  increased  the  danger  of  discovery.  A  distant 
tramp  was  heard.  "  The  patrols  are  walking  their  rounds," 
cried  the  renegado ;  "  if  we  linger,  we  perish.  Princess,  de 
scend  instantly,  or  we  leave  you." 

,  Zorahayda  was  for  a  moment  in  fearful  agitation ;  then 
loosening  the  ladder  of  ropes,  with  desperate  resolution  she 
flung  it  from  the  balcony. 

"It  is  decided  ! "  cried  she ;  "  flight  is  now  out  of  my 
power !  Allah  guide  and  bless  ye,  my  dear  sisters  !  " 

The  two  eldest  princesses  were  shocked  at  the  thoughts  of 
leaving  her  behind,  and  would  fain  have  lingered,  but  the  patrol 
was  advancing ;  the  renegado  was  furious,  and  they  were  hur 
ried  away  to  the  subterraneous  passage.  They  groped  their 
way  through  a  fearful  labyrinth,  cut  through  the  heart  of  the 
mountain,  and  succeeded  in  reaching,  undiscovered,  an  iron  gate 
that  opened  outside  of  the  walls.  The  Spanish  cavaliers  were 
waiting  to  receive  them,  disguised  as  Moorish  soldiers  of  the 
guard,  commanded  by  the  renegado. 

The  lover  of  Zorahayda  was  frantic  when  he  learned  that  she 
had  refused  to  leave  the  tower ;  but  there  was  no  time  to  waste 
in  lamentations.  The  two  princesses  were  placed  behind  their 


THE    FLIGHT  243 

.  lovers,  the  discreet  Kadiga  mounted  behind  the  renegado, 
and  they  all  set  off  at  a  round  pace  in  the  direction  of 
the  Pass  of  Lope,  which  leads  through  the  mountains  towards 
Cordova. 

They  had  not  proceeded  far  when  they  heard  the  noise  of 
drums  and  trumpets  from  the  battlements  of  the  Alhambra. 

"  Our  flight  is  discovered  !  "  said  the  renegado. 

"We  have  fleet  steeds,  the  night  is  dark,  and  we  may  dis 
tance  all  pursuit,"  replied  the  cavaliers. 

They  put  spurs  to  their  horses,  and  scoured  across  the  Vega. " 
They  attained  the  foot  of  the  mountain  of  Elvira,  which  stretches 
like  a  promontory  into  the  plain.  The  renegado  paused  and 
listened.  "As  yet,"  said  he,  "there  is  no  one  on  our  traces, 
we  shall  make  good  our  escape  to  the  mountains."  While  he 
spoke,  a  light  blaze  sprang  up  on  the  top  of  the  watch-tower 
of  the  Alhambra. 

"  Confusion  !  "  cried  the  renegado,  "  that  bale  fire  will  put 
all  the  guards  of  the  passes  on  the  alert.  Away  !  away  !  Spur 
like  mad,  —  there  is  no  time  to  be  lost." 

Away  they  dashed  —  the  clattering  of  their  horses'  hoofs 
echoed  from  rock  to  rock,  as  they  swept  along  the  road  that 
skirts  the  rocky  mountain  of  Elvira.  As  they  galloped  on,  the 
bale  fire  of  the  Alhambra  was  answered  in  every  direction ;  light 
after  light  blazed  on  the  Atalayas,  or  watch-towers  of  the 
mountains. 

"  Forward  !  forward  ! "  cried  the  renegado,  with  many  an 
oath,  "  to  the  bridge,  —  to  the  bridge,  before  the  alarm  has 
reached  there ! " 

They  doubled  the  promontory  of  the  mountains,  and  arrived 
in  sight  of  the  famous  Bridge  of  Pinos  that  crosses  a  rushing 
stream  often  dyed  with  Christian  and  Moslem  blood.  To  their 
confusion,  the  tower  on  the  bridge  blazed  with  lights  and  glittered 
with  armed  men.  The  renegado  pulled  up  his  steed,  rose  in 
his  stirrups,  and  looked  about  him  for  a  moment ;  then  beckon- 


244  THE    ALHAMBRA 

ing  to  the  cavaliers,  he  struck  off  from  the  road,  skirted  the 
river  for  some  distance,  and  dashed  into  its  waters.  The  cava 
liers  called  upon  the  princesses  to  cling  to  them,  and  did  the 
same.  They  were  borne  for  some  distance  down  the  rapid  cur 
rent,  the  surges  roared  round  them,  but  the  beautiful  princesses 
clung  to  their  Christian  knights,  and  never  uttered  a  complaint. 
The  cavaliers  attained  the  opposite  bank  in  safety,  and  were 
conducted  by  the  renegado,  by  rude  and  unfrequented  paths 
and  wild  -barrancos,  through  the  heart  of  the  mountains,  so  as 
to  avoid  all  the  regular  passes.  In  a  word,  they  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  ancient  city  of  Cordova,  where  their  restoration 
to  their  country  and  friends  was  celebrated  with  great  rejoic 
ings,  for  they  were  of  the  noblest  families.  The  beautiful  prin 
cesses  were  forthwith  received  into  the  bosom  of  the  Church, 
and  after  being  in  all  due  form  made  regular  Christians,  were 
rendered  happy  wives. 

In  our  hurry  to  make  good  the  escape  of  the  princesses  across 
the  river,  and  up  the  mountains,  we  forgot  to  mention  the  fate 
of  the  discreet  Kadiga.  She  had  clung  like  a  cat  to  Hussein 
Baba  in  the  scamper  across  the  Vega,  screaming  at  every  bound, 
and  drawing  many  an  oath  from  the  whiskered  renegado ;  but 
when  he  prepared  to  plunge  his 'steed  into  the  river,  her  ter 
ror  knew  no  bounds.  "Grasp  me  not  so  tightly,"  cried  Hus 
sein  Baba ;  "  hold  on  by  my  belt  and  fear  nothing."  She  held 
firmly  with  both  hands  by  the  leathern  belt  that  girded  the 
broad-backed  renegado ;  but  when  he  halted  with  the  cavaliers 
to  take  breath  on  the  mountain  summit,  the  duenna  was  no  longer 
to  be  seen. 

"What  has  become  of  Kadiga?"  cried  the  princesses  in 
alarm. 

"  Allah  alone  knows  !  "  replied  the  renegado ;  "  my  belt 
came  loose  when  in  the  midst  of  the  river,  and  Kadiga  was 
swept  with  it  down  the  stream.  The  will  of  Allah  be  done  ! 
but  it  was  an  embroidered  belt,  and  of  great  price." 


THE    FATE    OF    KAD1GA  245 

There  was  no  time  to  waste  in  idle  regrets ;  yet  bitterly  did 
the  princesses  bewail  the  loss  of  their  discreet  counsellor.  That 
excellent  old  woman,  however,  did  not  lose  more  than  half  of 
her  nine  lives  in  the  water  :  a  fisherman,  who  was  drawing  his 
nets  some  distance  down  the  stream,  brought  her  to  land, 
and  was  not  a  little  astonished  at  his  miraculous  draught. 
What  furthur  became  of  the  discreet  Kadiga,  the  legend 
does  not  mention ;  certain  it  is  that  she  evinced  her  discre 
tion  in  never  venturing  within  the  reach  of  Mohamed  the 
Left-handed. 

Almost  as  little  is  known  of  the  conduct  of  that  sagacious 
monarch  when  he  discovered  the  escape  of  his  daughters,  and 
the  deceit  practiced  upon  him  by  the  most  faithful  of  servants. 
It  was  the  only  instance  in  which  he  had  called  in  the  aid  of 
counsel,  and  he  was  never  afterwards  known  to  be  guilty  of 
a  similar  weakness.  He  took  good  care,  however,  to  guard  his 
remaining  daughter,  who  had  no  disposition  to  elope  ;  it  is 
thought,  indeed,  that  she  secretly  repented  having  remained  be 
hind  :  now  and  then  she  was  seen  leaning  on  the  battlements  of 
the  tower,  and  looking  mournfully  towards  the  mountains  in 
the  direction  of  Cordova,  and  sometimes  the  notes  of  her  lute 
were  heard  accompanying  plaintive  ditties,  in  which  she  was 
said  to  lament  the  loss  of  her  sisters  and  her  lover,  and  to  be 
wail  her  solitary  life.  She  died  young,  and,  according  to  popu 
lar  rumor,  was  buried  in  a  vault  beneath  the  tower,  and  her 
untimely  fate  has  given  rise  to  more  than  one  traditionary 
fable. 

The  following  legend,  which  seems  in  some  measure  to  spring 
out  of  the  foregoing  story,  is  too  closely  connected  with  high  his 
toric  names  to  be  entirely  doubted.  The  Count's  daughter,  and 
some  of  her  young  companions,  to  whom  it  was  read  in  one  of 
the  evening  tertullias,  thought  certain  parts  of  it  had  much  ap 
pearance  of  reality ;  and  Dolores,  who  was  much  more  versed 


246  THE    A  LH A  MB  HA 

than  they  in  the  improbable  truths  of  the  Alhambra,  believed 
every  word  of  it. 

1  The  reader  will  recognize  the  sovereign  connected  with  the  for 
tunes  of  the  Abencerrages.  His  story  appears  to  be  a  little  fiction- 
ized  in  the  legend. 


LEGEND  OF  THE  EOSE  OF  THE  ALHAMBRA 

FOR  some  time  after  the  surrender  of  Granada  by  the  Moors, 
that  delightful  city  was  a  frequent  and  favorite  residence  of  the 
Spanish  sovereigns,  until  they  were  frightened  away  by  succes 
sive  shocks  of  earthquakes,  which  toppled  down  various  houses, 
and  made  the  old  Moslem  towers  rock  to  their  foundation. 

Many,  many  years  then  rolled  away,  during  which  Granada 
was  rarely  honored  by  a  royal  guest.  The  palaces  of  the  nobil 
ity  remained  silent  and  shut  up ;  and  the  Alhambra,  like  a 
slighted  beauty,  sat  in  mournful  desolation  among  her  neglected 
gardens.  The  tower  of  the  Infantas,  once  the  residence  of  the 
three  beautiful  Moorish  princesses,  partook  of  the  general  deso 
lation  ;  the  spider  spun  her  web  athwart  the  gilded  vault,  and 
bats  and  owls  nestled  in  those  chambers  that  had  been  graced 
by  the  presence  of  Zayda,  Zorayda,  and  Zorahayda.  The  neg 
lect  of  this  tower  may  have  been  partly  owing  to  some  super 
stitious  notions  of  the  neighbors.  It  was  rumored  that  the 
spirit  of  the  youthful  Zorahayda,  who  had  perished  in  that 
tower,  was  often  seen  by  moonlight  seated  beside  the  fountain 
in  the  hall,  or  moaning  about  the  battlements,  and  that  the 
notes  of  her  silver  lute  would  be  heard  at  midnight  by  way 
farers  passing  along  the  glen. 

At  length  the  city  of  Granada  was  once  more  welcomed  by 
the  royal  presence.  All  the  world  knows  that  Philip  V.  was 
the  first  Bourbon  that  swayed  the  Spanish  sceptre.  All  the 
world  knows  that  he  married,  in  second  nuptials,  Elizabetta  or 


THE    TRUANT   FALCON  247 

Isabella  (for  they  are  the  same),  the  beautiful  princess  of  Parma ; 
and  all  the  world  knows  that  by  this  chain  of  contingencies  a 
French  prince  and  an  Italian  princess  were  seated  together  on 
the  Spanish  throne.  For  a  visit  of  this  illustrious  pair,  the 
Alhambra  was  repaired  and  fitted  up  with  all  possible  expedi 
tion.  The  arrival  of  the  court  changed  the  whole  aspect  of  the 
lately  deserted  palace.  The  clangor  of  drum  and  trumpet,  the 
tramp  of  steed  about  the  avenues  and  outer  court,  the  glitter 
of  arms  and  display  of  banners  about  barbican  and  battlement, 
recalled  the  ancient  and  warlike  glories  of  the  fortress.  A 
softer  spirit,  however,  reigned  within  the  royal  palace.  There 
was  the  rustling  of  robes  and  the  cautious  tread  and  murmur 
ing  voice  of  reverential  courtiers  about  the  ante-chambers;  a 
loitering  of  pages  and  maids  of  honor  about  the  gardens,  and 
the  sound  of  music  stealing  from  open  casements. 

Among  those  who  attended  in  the  train  of  the  monarchs  was 
a  favorite  page  of  the  queen,  named  Ruyz  de  Alarcon.  To  say 
that  he  was  a  favorite  page  of  the  queen  was  at  once  to  speak 
his  eulogium,  for  every  one  in  the  suite  of  the  stately  Elizabetta 
was  chosen  for  grace,  and  beauty,  and  accomplishments.  He 
was  just  turned  of  eighteen,  light  and  lithe  of  form,  and  grace 
ful  as  a  young  Antinous.  To  the  queen  he  was  all  deference 
and  respect,  yet  he  was  at  heart  a  roguish  stripling,  petted  and 
spoiled  by  the  ladies  about  the  court,  and  experienced  in  the 
ways  of  women  far  beyond  his  years. 

This  loitering  page  was  one  morning  rambling  about  the 
groves  of  the  Generalife,  which  overlook  the  grounds  of  the 
Alhambra.  He  had  taken  with  him  for  his  amusement  a  favor 
ite  ger-falcon  of  the  queen.  In  the  course  of  his  rambles,  see 
ing  a  bird  rising  from  a  thicket,  he  unhooded  the  hawk  and  let 
him  fly.  The  falcon  towered  high  in  the  air,  made  a  swoop  at 
his  quarry,  but  missing  it,  soared  away,  regardless  of  the  calls 
of  the  page.  The  latter  followed  the  truant  bird  with  his  eye, 
in  its  capricious  flight,  until  he  saw  it  alight  upon  the  battle- 


248  THE    ALHAMBRA 

ments  of  a  remote  and  lonely  tower,  in  the  outer  wall  of  the 
Alhambra,  built  on  the  edge  of  a  ravine  that  separated  the 
royal  fortress  from  the  grounds  of  the  Generalise.  It  was  in 
fact  the  "Tower  of  the  Princesses." 

The  page  descended  into  the  ravine  and  approached  the 
tower,  but  it  had  no  entrance  from  the  glen,  and  its  lofty 
height  rendered  any  attempt  to  scale  it  fruitless.  Seeking  one 
of  the  gates  of  the  fortress,  therefore,  he  made  a  wide  circuit  to 
that  side  of  the  tower  facing  within  the  walls. 

A  small  garden,  enclosed  by  a  trellis-work  of  reeds  overhung 
with  myrtle,  lay  before  the  tower.  Opening  a  wicket,  the  page 
passed  between  beds  of  flowers  and  thickets  of  roses  to  the 
door.  It  was  closed  and  bolted.  A  crevice  in  the  door  gave 
him  a  peep  into  the  interior.  There  was  a  small  Moorish  hall 
with  fretted  walls,  light  marble  columns,  and  an  alabaster 
fountain  surrounded  with  flowers.  In  the  centre  hung  a  gilt 
cage  containing  a  singing-bird;  beneath  it,  on  a  chair,  lay  a 
tortoise-shell  cat  among  reels  of  silk  and  other  articles  of  female 
labor,  and  a  guitar  decorated  with  ribbons  leaned  against  the 
fountain. 

Ruyz  de  Alarcon  was  struck  with  these  traces  of  female 
taste  and  elegance  in  a  lonely,  and,  as  he  had  supposed,  deserted 
tower.  They  reminded  him  of  the  tales  of  enchanted  halls  cur 
rent  in  the  Alhambra;  and  the  tortoise-shell  cat  might  be  some 
spell-bound  princess. 

He  knocked  gently  at  the  door.  A  beautiful  face  peeped 
out  from  a  little  window  above,  but  was  instantly  withdrawn. 
He  waited,  expecting  that  the  door  would  be  opened,  but  he 
waited  in  vain;  no  footstep  was  to  be  heard  within —  all  was 
silent.  Had  his  senses  deceived  him,  or  was  this  beautiful  ap 
parition  the  fairy  of  the  tower  ?  He  knocked  again,  and  more 
loudly.  After  a  little  while  the  beaming  face  once  more  peeped 
forth  ;  it  was  that  of  a  blooming  damsel  of  fifteen. 

The  page  immediately  doffed  his  plumed   bonnet,  and   en- 


THE    CAPITULATION  249 

treated  in  the  most  courteous  accents  to  be  permitted  to  ascend 
the  tower  in  pursuit  of  his  falcon. 

"  I  dare  not  open  the  door,  Senor,"  replied  the  little  damsel, 
blushing,  "  my  aunt  has  forbidden  it." 

"  I  do  beseech  you,  fair  maid  —  it  is  the  favorite  falcon  of 
the  queen :  I  dare  not  return  to  the  palace  without  it." 

"  Are  you  then  one  of  the  cavaliers  of  the  court  1 " 

"  I  am,  fair  maid ;  but  I  shall  lose  the  queen's  favor  and  my 
place,  if  I  lose  this  hawk." 

"  Santa  Maria  !  It  is  against  you  cavaliers  of  the  court  my 
aunt  has  charged  me  especially  to  bar  the  door." 

"  Against  wicked  cavaliers  doubtless,  but  I  am  none  of  these, 
but  a  simple  harmless  page,  who  will  be  ruined  and  undone 
if  you  deny  me  this  small  request." 

The  heart  of  the  little  damsel  was  touched  by  the  distress 
of  the  page.  It  was  a  thousand  pities  he  should  be  ruined  for 
the  want  of  so  trifling  a  boon.  Surely,  too,  he  could  not  be  one 
of  those  dangerous  beings  whom  her  aunt  had  described  as  a 
species  of  cannibal,  ever  on  the  prowl  to  make  prey  of  thought 
less  damsels ;  he  was  gentle  and  modest,  and  stood  so  entreat- 
ingly  with  cap  in  hand,  and  looked  so  charming. 

The  sly  page  saw  that  the  garrison  began  to  waver,  and 
redoubled  his  entreaties  in  such  moving  terms  that  it  was  not 
in  the  nature  of  mortal  maiden  to  deny  him ;  so  the  blushing 
little  warden  of  the  tower  descended,  and  opened  the  door  with 
a  trembling  hand,  and  if  the  page  had  been  charmed  by  a  mere 
glimpse  of  her  countenance  from  the  window,  he  was  ravished 
by  the  full-length  portrait  now  revealed  to  him. 

Her  Andalusian  bodice  and  trim  basquiiia  set  off  the  round 
but  delicate  symmetry  of  her  form,  which  was  as  yet  scarce 
verging  into  womanhood.  Her  glossy  hair  was  parted  on  her 
forehead  with  scrupulous  exactness,  and  decorated  with  a  fresh- 
plucked  rose,  according  to  the  universal  custom  of  the  country. 
It  is  true  her  complexion  was  tinged  by  the  ardor  of  a  southern 


250  THE    ALHAMBRA 

sun,  but  it  served  to  give  richness  to  the  mantling  bloom  of 
her  cheek,  and  to  heighten  the  lustre  of  her  melting  eyes. 

Ruyz  de  Alarcon  beheld  all  this  with  a  single  glance,  for  it 
became  him  not  to  tarry ;  he  merely  murmured  his  acknowl 
edgments,  and  then  bounded  lightly  up  the  spiral  staircase  in 
quest  of  his  falcon. 

He  soon  returned  with  the  truant  bird  upon  his  fist.  The 
damsel,  in  the  meantime,  had  seated  herself  by  the  fountain  in 
the  hall,  and  was  winding  silk ;  but  in  her  agitation  she  let 
fall  the  reel  upon  the  pavement.  The  page  sprang  and  picked 
it  up,  then  dropping  gracefully  on  one  knee,  presented  it  to  her : 
but,  seizing  the  hand  extended  to  receive  it,  imprinted  on  it  a 
kiss  more  fervent  and  devout  than  he  had  ever  imprinted  on 
the  fair  hand  of  his  sovereign. 

"  Ave  Maria,  Senor ! "  exclaimed  the  damsel,  blushing  still 
deeper  with  confusion  and  surprise,  for  never  before  had  she 
received  such  a  salutation. 

The  modest  page  made  a  thousand  apologies,  assuring  her  it 
was  the  way  at  court  of  expressing  the  most  profound  homage 
and  respect. 

Her  anger,  if  anger  she  felt,  was  easily  pacified,  but  her 
agitation  and  embarrassment  continued,  and  she  sat  blushing 
deeper  and  deeper,  with  her  eyes  cast  down  upon  her  work, 
entangling  the  silk  which  she  attempted  to  wind. 

The  cunning  page  saw  the  confusion  in  the  opposite  camp, 
and  would  fain  have  profited  by  it,  but  the  fine  speeches  he 
would  have  uttered  died  upon  his  lips;  his  attempts  at  gal 
lantry  were  awkward  and  ineffectual ;  and  to  his  surprise,  the 
adroit  page,  who  had  figured  with  such  grace  and  effrontery 
among  the  most  knowing  and  experienced  ladies  of  the  court, 
found  himself  awed  and  abashed  in  the  presence  of  a  simple 
damsel  of  fifteen. 

In  fact,  the  artless  maiden,  in  her  own  modesty  and  innocence, 
had  guardians  more  effectual  than  the  bolts  and  bars  prescribed 


THE   EMBARRASSMENT  251 

by  her  vigilant  aunt.  Still,  where  is  the  female  bosom  proof 
against  the  first  whisperings  of  love  ?  The  little  damsel,  with 
all  her  artlessness,  instinctively  comprehended  all  that  the 
faltering  tongue  of  the  page  failed  to  express,  and  her  heart 
was  fluttered  at  beholding,  for  the  first  time,  a  lover  at  her  feet 
—  and  such  a  lover  ! 

The  diffidence  of  the  page,  though  genuine,  was  short-lived, 
and  he  was  recovering  his  usual  ease  and  confidence,  when  a 
shrill  voice  was  heard  at  a  distance. 

"  My  aunt  is  returning  from  mass ! "  cried  the  damsel  in 
affright ;  "  I  pray  you,  Senor,  depart." 

"  Not  until  you  grant  me  that  rose  from  your  hair  as  a 
remembrance." 

She  hastily  untwisted  the  rose  from  her  raven  locks,  "  Take 
it,"  cried  she,  agitated  and  blushing,  "but  pray  begone." 

The  page  took  the  rose,  and  at  the  same  time  covered  with 
kisses  the  fair  hand  that  gave  it.  Then,  placing  the  flower  in 
his  bonnet,  and  taking  the  falcon  upon  his  fist  he  bounded  off 
through  the  garden,  bearing  away  with  him  the  heart  of  the 
gentle  Jacinta. 

When  the  vigilant  aunt  arrived  at  the  tower,  she  remarked 
the  agitation  of  her  niece,  and  an  air  of  confusion  in  the  hall ; 
but  a  word  of  explanation  sufficed.  "A  ger-falcon  had  pur 
sued  his  prey  into  the  hall." 

"  Mercy  on  us  !  to  think  of  a  falcon  flying  into  the  tower. 
Did  ever  one  hear  of  so  saucy  a  hawk  ?  Why,  the  very  bird 
in  the  cage  is  not  safe.! " 

The  vigilant  Fredegonda  was  one  of  the  most  wary  of  ancient 
spinsters.  She  had  a  becoming  terror  and  distrust  of  what  she 
denominated  "  the  opposite  sex,"  which  had  gradually  increased 
through  a  long  life  of  celibacy.  Not  that  the  good  lady  had 
ever  suffered  from  their  wiles,  nature  having  set  up  a  safe 
guard  in  her  face  that  forbade  all  trespass  upon  her  prem 
ises  ;  but  ladies  who  have  least  cause  to  fear  for  themselves. 


252  THE    ALHAMBRA 

are  most  ready  to  keep  a  watch  over  their  more  tempting 
neighbors. 

The  niece  was  the  orphan  of  an  officer  who  had  fallen  in  the 
wars.  She  had  been  educated  in  a  convent,  and  had  recently 
been  transferred  from  her  sacred  asylum  to  the  immediate 
guardianship  of  her  aunt,  under  whose  overshadowing  care  she 
vegetated  in  obscurity,  like  an  opening  rose  blooming  beneath  a 
brier.  Nor  indeed  is  this  comparison  entirely  accidental ;  for, 
to  tell  the  truth,  her  fresh  and  dawning  beauty  had  caught 
the  public  eye,  even  in  her  seclusion,  and,  with  that  poetical 
turn  common  to  the  people  of  Andalusia,  the  peasantry  of  the 
neighborhood  had  given  her  the  appellation  of  "the  Rose  of 
the  Al  ham  bra." 

The  wary  aunt  continued  to  keep  a  faithful  watch  over  her 
tempting  little  niece  as  long  as  the  court  continued  at  Granada, 
and  flattered  herself  that  her  vigilance  had  been  successful.  It 
is  true  the  good  lady  was  now  and  then  discomposed  by  the 
tinkling  of  guitars  and  chanting  of  love-ditties  from  the  moon 
lit  groves  beneath  the  tower ;  but  she  would  exhort  her  niece 
to  shut  her  ears  against  such  idle  minstrelsy,  assuring  her 
that  it  was  one  of  the  arts  of  the  opposite  sex,  by  which 
simple  maids  were  often  lured  to  their  undoing.  Alas  !  what 
chance  with  a  simple  maid  has  a  dry  lecture  against  a  moon 
light  serenade  ? 

At  length  king  Philip  cut  short  his  sojourn  at  Granada,  and 
suddenly  departed  with  all  his  train.  The  vigilant  Fredegonda 
watched  the  royal  pageant  as  it  issued  forth  from  the  Gate  of 
Justice,  and  descended  the  great  avenue  leading  to  the  city. 
When  the  last  banner  disappeared  from  her  sight,  she  returned 
exulting  to  her  tower,  for  all  her  cares  were  over.  To  her 
surprise,  a  light  Arabian  steed  pawed  the  ground  at  the  wicket- 
gate  of  the  garden ;  —  to  her  horror  she  saw  through  the  thickets 
of  roses  a  youth  in  gayly  embroidered  dress,  at  the  feet  of  her 
niece.  At  the  sound  of  her  footsteps  he  gave  a  tender  adieu, 


THE  FORSAKEN   MAID  253 

bounded  lightly  over  the  barrier  of  reeds  and  myrtles,  sprang 
upon  his  horse  and  was  out  of  sight  in  an  instant. 

The  tender  Jacinta,  in  the  agony  of  her  grief,  lost  all  thought 
of  her  aunt's  displeasure.  Throwing  herself  into  her  arms,  she 
broke  forth  into  sobs  and  tears. 

"Ay  de  mi !  "  cried  she ;  "  he's  gone  !  —  he's  gone  !  —  he's 
gone  !  and  I  shall  never  see  him  more  ! " 

"  Gone  !  —  who  is  gone  ?  —  what  youth  is  that  I  saw  at  your 
feet?" 

"  A  queen's  page,  aunt,  who  came  to  bid  me  farewell." 

"  A  queen's  page,  child ! "  echoed  the  vigilant  Fredegonda, 
faintly,  "  and  when  did  you  become  acquainted  with  the  queen's 
page?" 

"  The  morning  that  the  ger-falcon  came  into  the  tower.  It 
was  the  queen's  ger-falcon,  and  he  came  in  pursuit  of  it." 

"Ah  silly,  silly  girl !  know  that  there  are  no  ger-falcons  half 
so  dangerous  as  these  young  prankling  pages,  and  it  is  precisely 
such  simple  birds  as  thee  that  they  pounce  upon." 

The  aunt  was  at  first  indignant  at  learning  that  in  despite  of 
her  boasted  vigilance,  a  tender  intercourse  had  been  carried  on 
by  the  youthful  lovers,  almost  beneath  her  eye ;  but  when  she 
found  that  her  simple-hearted  niece,  though  thus  exposed,  with 
out  the  protection  of  bolt  or  bar,  to  all  the  machinations  of  the 
opposite  sex,  had  come  forth  unsinged  from  the  fiery  ordeal,  she 
consoled  herself  with  the  persuasion  that  it  was  owing  to  the 
chaste  and  cautious  maxims  in  which  she  had,  as  it  were, 
steeped  her  to  the  very  lips. 

While  the  aunt  laid  this  soothing  unction  to  her  pride,  the 
niece  treasured  up  the  oft-repeated  vows  of  fidelity  of  the  page. 
But  what  is  the  love  of  restless,  roving  man?  A  vagrant 
stream  that  dallies  for  a  time  with  each  flower  upon  its  bank, 
then  passes  on,  and  leaves  them  all  in  tears. 

Days,  weeks,  months  elapsed,  and  nothing  more  was  heard 
of  the  page.  The  pomegranate  ripened,  the  vine  yielded  up  its 


254  THE    ALHAMBRA 

fruit,  the  autumnal  rains  descended  in  torrents  from  the  moun 
tains  ;  the  Sierra  Nevada  became  covered  with  a  snowy  mantle, 
and  wintry  blasts  howled  through  the  halls  of  the  Alhambra  — 
still  he  came  not.  The  winter  past  away.  Again  the  genial 
spring  burst  forth  with  song  and  blossom  and  balmy  zephyr ; 
the  snows  melted  from  the  mountains,  until  none  remained 
but  on  the  lofty  summit  of  Nevada,  glistening  through  the 
sultry  summer  air.  Still  nothing  was  heard  of  the  forgetful 
page. 

In  the  meantime  the  poor  little  Jacinta  grew  pale  and 
thoughtful.  Her  former  occupations  and  amusements  were 
abandoned,  her  silk  lay  entangled,  her  guitar  unstrung,  her 
flowers  were  neglected,  the  notes  of  her  bird  unheeded,  and  her 
eyes,  once  so  bright,  were  dimmed  with  secret  weeping.  If  any 
solitude  could  be  devised  to  foster  the  passion  of  a  love-lorn 
damsel  it  would  be  such  a  place  as  the  Alhambra,  where  every 
thing  seems  disposed  to  produce  tender  and  remaiitic  reveries. 
It  is  a  very  paradise  for  lovers :  how  hard  then  to  be  alone  in 
such  a  paradise  —  and  not  merely  alone,  but  forsaken  ! 

"  Alas,  silly  child  !  "  would  the  staid  and  immaculate  Frede- 
gonda  say,  when  she  found  her  niece  in  one  of  her  desponding 
moods  —  "did  I  not  warn  thee  against  the  wiles  and  deceptions 
of  these  men  ?  What  couldst  thou  expect,  too,  from  one  of  a 
haughty  and  aspiring  family  —  thou  an  orphan,  the  descendant 
of  a  fallen  and  impoverished  line?  Be  assured,  if  the  youth 
were  true,  his  father,  who  is  one  of  the  proudest  nobles  about 
the  court,  would  prohibit  his  union  with  one  so  humble  and 
portionless  as  thou.  Pluck  up  thy  resolution,  therefore,  and 
drive  these  idle  notions  from  thy  mind." 

The  words  of  the  immaculate  Fredegonda  only  served  to 
increase  the  melancholy  of  her  niece,  but  she  sought  to  indulge 
it  in  private.  At  a  late  hour  one  midsummer  night,  after  her 
aunt  had  retired  to  rest,  she  remained  alone  in  the  hall  of  the 
tower,  seated  beside  the  alabaster  fountain.  It  was  here  that 


THE    SPIRIT    OF    THE    FOUNTAIN  255 

the  faithless  page  had  first  knelt  and  kissed  her  hand ;  it  was 
here  that  he  had  often  vowed  eternal  fidelity.  The  poor  little 
damsel's  heart  was  overladen  with  sad  and  tender  recollections, 
her  tears  began  to  flow,  and  slowly  fell  drop  by  drop  into 
the  fountain.  By  degrees  the  crystal  water  became  agitated, 
and  —  bubble  —  bubble  —  bubble  —  boiled  up  and  was  tossed 
about,  until  a  female  figure,  richly  clad  in  Moorish  robes,  slowly 
rose  to  view. 

Jacinta  was  so  frightened  that  she  fled  from  the  hall,  and 
did  not  venture  to  return.  The  next  morning  she  related  what 
she  had  seen  to  her  aunt,  but  the  good  lady  treated  it  as  a 
fantasy  of  her  troubled  mind,  or  supposed  she  had  fallen  asleep 
and  dreamt  beside  the  fountain.  "Thou  hast  been  thinking 
of  the  story  of  the  three  Moorish  princesses  that  once  inhabited 
this  tower,"  continued  she,  "and  it  has  entered  into  thy  dreams." 

"  What  story,  aunt  ?     I  know  nothing  of  it." 

"Thou  hast  certainly  heard  of  the  three  princesses,  Zayda, 
Zorayda,  and  Zorahayda,  who  were  confined  in  this  tower  by 
the  king  their  father,  and  agreed  to  fly  with  three  Christian 
cavaliers.  The  two  first  accomplished  their  escape,  but  the 
third  failed  in  her  resolution,  and,  it  is  said,  died  in  this 
tower." 

"  I  now  recollect  to  have  heard  of  it,"  said  Jacinta,  "  and  to 
have  wept  over  the  fate  of  the  gentle  Zorahayda." 

"  Thou  mayest  well  weep  over  her  fate,"  continued  the  aunt, 
"  for  the  lover  of  Zorahayda  was  thy  ancestor.  He  long  be 
moaned  his  Moorish  love ;  but  time  cured  him  of  his  grief,  and 
he  married  a  Spanish  lady,  from  whom  thou  art  descended." 

Jacinta  ruminated  upon  these  words.  "  That  what  I  have 
seen  is  no  fantasy  of  the  brain,"  said  she  to  herself,  "I  am 
confident.  If  indeed  it  be  the  spirit  of  the  gentle  Zorahayda, 
which  I  have  heard  lingers  about  this  tower,  of  what  should  I 
be  afraid  1  I'll  watch  by  the  fountain  to-night  —  perhaps  the 
visit  will  be  repeated," 


256  .    THE    ALHAMBEA 

Towards  midnight,  when  everything  was  quiet,  she  again  took 
her  seat  in  the  hall.  As  the  bell  in  the  distant  watch-tower  of 
the  Alhambra  struck  the  midnight  hour,  the  fountain  was  again 
agitated ;  and  bubble  —  bubble  —  bubble  —  it  tossed  about  the 
waters  until  the  Moorish  female  again  rose  to  view.  She  was 
young  and  beautiful ;  her  dress  was  rich  with  jewels,  and  in 
her  hand  she  held  a  silver  lute.  Jacinta  trembled  and  was 
faint,  but  was  reassured  by  the  soft  and  plaintive  voice  of  the 
apparition,  and  the  sweet  expression  of  her  pale,  melancholy 
countenance. 

"  Daughter  of  mortality,"  said  she,  "  what  aileth  thee  ?  Why 
do  thy  tears  trouble  my  fountain,  and  thy  sighs  and  plaints  dis 
turb  the  quiet  watches  of  the  night  1 " 

"  I  weep  because  of  the  faithlessness  of  man,  and  I  bemoan 
my  solitary  and  forsaken  state." 

"  Take  comfort ;  thy  sorrows  may  yet  have  an  end.  Thou 
beholdest  a  Moorish  princess,  who,  like  thee,  was  unhappy  in 
her  love.  A  Christian  knight,  thy  ancestor,  won  my  heart,  and 
would  have  borne  me  to  his  native  land  and  to  the  bosom  of 
his  church.  I  was  a  convert  in  my  heart,  but  I  lacked  courage 
equal  to  my  faith,  and  lingered  till  too  late.  For  this  the  evil 
genii  are  permitted  to  have  power  over  me,  and  I  remain  en 
chanted  in  this  tower  until  some  pure  Christian  will  deign  to 
break  the  magic  spell.  Wilt  thou  undertake  the  task  1 " 

"  I  will,"  replied  the  damsel,  trembling. 

"  Come  hither  then,  and  fear  not ;  dip  thy  hand  in  the  foun 
tain,  sprinkle  the  water  over  me,  and  baptize  me  after  the  man 
ner  of  thy  faith;  so  shall  the  enchantment  be  dispelled,  and 
my  troubled  spirit  have  repose." 

The  damsel  advanced  with  faltering  steps,  dipped  her  hand 
in  the  fountain,  collected  water  in  the  palm,  and  sprinkled  it 
over  the  pale  face  of  the  phantom. 

The  latter  smiled  with  ineffable  benignity.  She  dropped  her 
silver  lute  at  the  feet  of  Jacinta,  crossed  her  white  arms  upon 


THE    SILVER    LUTE  257 

her  bosom,  and  melted  from  sight,  so  that  it  seemed  merely  as 
if  a  shower  of  dewdrops  had  fallen  into  the  fountain. 

Jacinta  retired  from  the  hall  filled  with  awe  and  wonder. 
She  scarcely  closed  her  eyes  that  night ;  but  when  she  awoke 
at  daybreak  out  of  a  troubled  slumber,  the  whole  appeared  to 
her  like  a  distempered  dream.  On  descending  into  the  hall, 
however,  the  truth  of  the  vision  was  established,  for  beside  the 
fountain  she  beheld  the  silver  lute  glittering  in  the  morning 
sunshine. 

She  hastened  to  her  aunt,  to  relate  all  that  had  befallen  her, 
and  called  her  to  behold  the  lute  as  a  testimonial  of  the  reality 
of  her  story.  If  the  good  lady  had  any  lingering  doubts,  they 
were  removed  when  Jacinta  touched  the  instrument,  for  she 
drew  forth  such  ravishing  tones  as  to  thaw  even  the  frigid 
bosom  of  the  immaculate  Fredegonda,  that  region  of  eternal 
winter,  into  a  genial  flow.  Nothing  but  supernatural  melody 
could  have  produced  such  an  effect. 

The  extraordinary  power  of  the  lute  became  every  day  more 
and  more  apparent.  The  wayfarer  passing  by  the  tower  was 
detained,  and,  as  it  were,  spell-bound  in  breathless  ecstasy. 
The  very  birds  gathered  in  the  neighboring  trees,  and  hushing 
their  own  strains,  listened  in  charmed  silence. 

Rumor  soon  spread  the  news  abroad.  The  inhabitants  of 
Granada  thronged  to  the  Alhambra  to  catch  a  few  notes  of  the 
transcendent  music  that  floated  about  the  tower  of  Las  Infantas. 

The  lovely  little  minstrel  was  at  length  drawn  forth  from 
her  retreat.  The  rich  and  powerful  of  the  land  contended  who 
should  entertain  and  do  honor  to  her;  or  rather,  who  should 
secure  the  charais  of  her  lute  to  draw  fashionable  throngs  to 
their  saloons.  Wherever  she  went  her  vigilant  aunt  kept  a 
dragon  watch  at  her  elbow,  awing  the  throngs  of  impassioned 
admirers  who  hung  in  raptures  on  her  strains.  The  report  of 
her  wonderful  powers  spread  from  city  to  city.  Malaga,  Seville, 
Cordova,  all  became  successively  mad  on  the  theme;  nothing 


258  THE    ALHAMBRA 

was  talked  of  throughout  Andalusia  but  the  beautiful  minstrel 
of  the  Alhambra.  How  could  it  be  otherwise  among  a  people 
so  musical  and  gallant  as  the  Andalusians,  when  the  lute  was 
magical  in  its  powers,  and  the  minstrel  inspired  by  love  ! 

While  all  Andalusia  was  thus  music  mad,  a  different  mood 
prevailed  at  the  court  of  Spain.  Philip  V.,  as  is  well  known, 
was  a  miserable  hypochondriac,  and  subject  to  all  kinds  of 
fancies.  Sometimes  he  would  keep  his  bed  for  weeks  together, 
groaning  under  imaginary  complaints.  At  other  times  he  would 
insist  upon  abdicating  his  throne,  to  the  great  annoyance  of  his 
royal  spouse,  who  had  a  strong  relish  for  the  splendors  of  a  court 
and  the  glories  of  a  crown,  and  guided  the  sceptre  of  her  imbecile 
lord  with  an  expert  and  steady  hand. 

Nothing  was  found  to  be  so  efficacious  in  dispelling  the  royal 
megrims  as  the  power  of  music ;  the  queen  took  care,  therefore, 
to  have  the  best  performers,  both  vocal  and  instrumental,  at 
hand,  and  retained  the  famous  Italian  singer  Farinelli  about  the 
court  as  a  kind  of  royal  physician. 

At  the  moment  we  treat  of,  however,  a  freak  had  come  over 
the  mind  of  this  sapient  and  illustrious  Bourbon  that  surpassed 
all  former  vagaries.  After  a  long  spell  of  imaginary  illness, 
which  set  all  the  strains  of  Farinelli  and  the  consultations  of  a 
whole  orchestra  of  court  fiddlers  at  defiance,  the  monarch  fairly, 
in  idea,  gave  up  the  ghost,  and  considered  himself  absolutely 
dead. 

This  would  have  been  harmless  enough,  and  even  convenient 
both  to  his  queen  and  courtiers,  had  he  been  content  to  remain 
in  the  quietude  befitting  a  dead  man ;  but  to  their  annoyance 
he  insisted  upon  having  the  funeral  ceremonies  performed  over 
him,  and,  to  their  inexpressible  perplexity,  began  to  grow  impa 
tient,  and  to  revile  bitterly  at  them  for  negligence  and  disre 
spect,  in  leaving  him  unburied.  What  was  to  be  done?  To 
disobey  the  king's  positive  commands  was  monstrous  in  the 
eyes  of  the  obsequious  courtiers  of  a  punctilious  court  — 


ROYAL    MEGRIMS  259 

but  to  obey  him  and  bury  him  alive  would  be  downright 
regicide ! 

In  the  midst  of  this  fearful  dilemma  a  rumor  reached  the 
court  of  the  female  minstrel  who  was  turning  the  brains  of  all 
Andalusia.  The  queen  dispatched  missions  in  all  haste  to  sum 
mon  her  to  St.  Ildefonso,  where  the  court  at  that  time  resided. 

Within  a  few  days,  as  the  queen  with  her  maids  of  honor 
was  walking  in  those  stately  gardens,  intended,  with  their 
avenues  and  terraces  and  fountains,  to  eclipse  the  glories  of 
Versailles,  the  far-famed  minstrel  was  conducted  into  her 
presence.  The  imperial  Elizabetta  gazed  with  surprise  at  the 
youthful  and  unpretending  appearance  of  the  little  being  that 
had  set  the  world  madding.  She  was  in  her  picturesque  Anda- 
lusian  dress,  her  silver  lute  in  hand,  and  stood  with  modest  and 
downcast  eyes,  but  with  a  simplicity  and  freshness  of  beauty 
that  still  bespoke  her  "the  Rose  of  the  Alhambra." 

As  usual  she  was  accompanied  by  the  ever-vigilant  Frede- 
gonda,  who  gave  the  whole  history  of  her  parentage  and  descent 
to  the  inquiring  queen.  If  the  stately  Elizabetta  had  been 
interested  by  the  appearance  of  Jacinta,  she  was  still  more 
pleased  when  she  learnt  that  she  was  of  a  meritorious  though 
impoverished  line,  and  that  her  father  had  bravely  fallen  in  the 
service  of  the  crown.  "If  thy  powers  equal  thy  renown,"  said 
she,  "and  thou  canst  cast  forth  this  evil  spirit  that  possesses 
thy  sovereign,  thy  fortunes  shall  henceforth  be  my  care,  and 
honors  and  wealth  attend  thee." 

Impatient  to  make  trial  of  her  skill,  she  led  the  way  at  once 
to  the  apartment  of  the  moody  monarch. 

Jacinta  followed  with  downcast  eyes  through  files  of  guards 
and  crowds  of  courtiers.  They  arrived  at  length  at  a  great 
chamber  hung  with  black.  The  windows  were  closed  to  exclude 
the  light  of  day :  a  number  of  yellow  wax  tapers  in  silver  sconces 
diffused  a  lugubrious  light,  and  dimly  revealed  the  figures  of 
mutes  in  mourning  dresses,  and  courtiers  who  glided  about  with 


260  THE    ALHAMBRA 

noiseless  step  and  woe-begone  visage.  In  the  midst  of  a  funeral 
bed  or  bier,  his  hands  folded  on  his  breast,  and  the  tip  of  his 
nose  just  visible,  lay  extended  this  would-be-buried  monarch. 

The  queen  entered  the  chamber  in  silence,  and  pointing  to  a 
footstool  in  an  obscure  corner,  beckoned  to  Jacinta  to  sit  down 
and  commence. 

At  first  she  touched  her  lute  with  a  faltering  hand,  but 
gathering  confidence  and  animation  as  she  proceeded,  drew  forth 
such  soft  aerial  harmony,  that  all  present  could  scarce  believe  it 
mortal.  As  to  the  monarch,  who  had  already  considered  him 
self  in  the  world  of  spirits,  he  set  it  down  for  some  angelic 
melody  or  the  music  of  the  spheres.  By  degrees  the  theme 
was  varied,  and  the  voice  of  the  minstrel  accompanied  the 
instrument.  She  poured  forth  one  of  the  legendary  ballads 
treating  of  the  ancient  glories  of  the  Alhambra  and  the  achieve 
ments  of  the  Moors.  Her  whole  soul  entered  into  the  theme, 
for  with  the  recollections  of  the  Alhambra  was  associated  the 
story  of  her  love.  The  funeral-chamber  resounded  with  the 
animating  strain.  It  entered  into  the  gloomy  heart  of  the  mon 
arch.  He  raised  his  head  and  gazed  around :  he  sat  up  on  his 
couch,  his  eye  began  to  kindle  —  at  length,  leaping  upon  the 
floor,  he  called  for  sword  and  buckler. 

The  triumph  of  music,  or  rather  of  the  enchanted  lute,  was 
complete ;  the  demon  of  melancholy  was  cast  forth ;  and,  as  it 
were,  a  dead  man  brought  to  life.  The  windows  of  the  apart 
ment  were  thrown  open ;  the  glorious  effulgence  of  Spanish  sun 
shine  burst  into  the  late  lugubrious  chamber;  all  eyes  sought 
the  lovely  enchantress,  but  the  lute  had  fallen  from  her  hand,  she 
had  sunk  upon  the  earth,  and  the  next  moment  was  clasped 
to  the  bosom  of  Euyz  de  Alarcon. 

The  nuptials  of  the  happy  couple  were  celebrated  soon  after 
wards  with  great  splendor,  and  the  rose  of  the  Alhambra  became 
the  ornament  and  delight  of  the  court.  "  But  hold  —  not  so 
fast"  —  I  hear  the  reader  exclaim;  "this  is  jumping  to  the 


THE    TRIUMPH    OF    MUSIC  261 

end  of  a  story  at  a  furious  rate  !  First  let  us  know  how  Ruyz 
de  Alarcon  managed  to  account  to  Jacinta  for  his  long  neglect." 
Nothing  more  easy;  the  venerable,  time-honored  excuse,  the 
opposition  to  his  wishes  by  a  proud,  pragmatical  old  father : 
besides,  young  people  who  really  like  one  another  soon  come  to 
.  an  amicable  understanding,  and  bury  all  past  grievances  when 
once  they  meet. 

But  how  was  the  proud,  pragmatical  old  father  reconciled  to 
the  match  ? 

Oh  !  as  to  that,  his  scruples  were  easily  overcome  by  a  word 
or  two  from  the  queen;  especially  as  dignities  and  rewards 
were  showered  upon  the  blooming  favorite  of  royalty.  Besides, 
the  lute  of  Jacinta,  you  know,  possessed  a  magic  power,  and 
could  control  the  most  stubborn  head  and  hardest  breast. 

And  what  came  of  the  enchanted  lute  1 

Oh,  that  is  the  most  curious  matter  of  all,  and  plainly  proves 
the  truth  of  the  whole  story.  That  lute  remained  for  some 
time  in  the  family,  but  was  purloined  and  carried  off,  as  was 
supposed,  by  the  great  singer  Farinelli,  in  pure  jealousy.  At 
his  death  it  passed  irfto  other  hands  in  Italy,  who  were  ignorant 
of  its  mystic  powers,  and  melting  down  the  silver,  transferred 
the  strings  to  an  old  Cremona  fiddle.  The  strings  still  retain 
something  of  their  magic  virtues.  A  word  in  the  reader's  ear, 
but  let  it  go  no  furthers  that  fiddle  is  now  bewitching  the 
whole  world,  —  it  is  the  fiddle  of  Paganini ! 


THE  VETERAN 

AMONG  the  curious  acquaintances  I  made  in  my  rambles 
about  the  fortress,  was  a  brave  and  battered  old  colonel  of 
Invalids,  who  was  nestled  like  a  hawk  in  one  of  the  Moorish 
towers.  His  history,  which  he  was  fond  of  telling,  was  a  tissue 
of  those  adventures,  mishaps,  and  vicissitudes  that  render  the 


262  THE    ALHAMBRA 

life  of  almost  every  Spaniard  of  note  as  varied  and  whimsical 
as  the  pages  of  Gil  Bias. 

He  was  in  America  at  twelve  years  of  age,  and  reckoned  - 
among  the  most  signal  and  fortunate  events  of  his  life,  his  hav 
ing  seen  General  Washington.  Since  then  he  had  taken  a  part 
in  all  the  wars  of  his  country ;  he  could  speak  experimentally 
of  most  of  the  prisons  and  dungeons  of  the  Peninsula ;  had 
been  lamed  of  one  leg,  crippled  in  his  hands,  and  so  cut  up  and 
carbonadoed  that  he  was  a  kind  of  walking  monument  of  the 
troubles  of  Spain,  on  which  there  was  a  scar  for  every  battle 
and  broil,  as  every  year  of  captivity  was  notched  upon  the  tree 
of  Robinson  Crusoe.  The  greatest  misfortune  of  the  brave  old 
cavalier,  however,  appeared  to  have  been  his  having  commanded 
at  Malaga  during  a  time  of  peril  and  confusion,  and  been  made 
a  general  by  the  inhabitants,  to  protect  them  from  the  invasion 
of  the  French.  This  had  entailed  upon  him  a  number  of  just 
claims  upon  government,  that  I  feared  would  employ  him  until 
his  dying  day  in  writing  and  printing  petitions  and  memorials, 
to  the  great  disquiet  of  his  mind,  exhaustion  of  his  purse,  and 
penance  of  his  friends ;  not  one  of  whom  could  visit  him  with 
out  having  to  listen  to  .a  mortal  document  of  half  an  hour  in 
length,  and  to  carry  away  half  a  dozen  pamphlets  in  his  pocket. 
This,  however,  is  the  case  throughout  Spain ;  everywhere  you 
meet  with  some  worthy  wight  brooding  in  a  corner,  and  nursing 
up  some  pet  grievance  and  cherished  wrong.  Besides,  a  Span 
iard  who  has  a  lawsuit,  or  a  claim  upon  government,  may  be 
considered  as  furnished  with  employment  for  the  remainder  of 
his  life. 

I  visited  the  veteran  in  his  quarters  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
Torre  del  Vino,  or  Wine  Tower.  His  room  was  small  but  snug, 
and  commanded  a  beautiful  view  of  the  Vega.  It  was  arranged 
with  a  soldier's  precision.  Three  muskets  and  a  brace  of  pistols, 
all  bright  and  shining,  were  suspended  against  the  wall,  with  a 
sabre  and  a  cane  hanging  side  by  side,  and  above  them  xtwo 


THE    GOVERNOR    AND    THE    NOTARY          263 

cocked  hats,  one  for  parade,  and  one  for  ordinary  use.  A  small 
shelf  containing  some  half  a  dozen  books  formed  his  library, 
one  of  which,  a  little  old  mouldy  volume  of  philosophical  max 
ims,  was  his  favorite  reading.  This  he  thumbed  and  pondered 
over  day  by  day,  applying  every  maxim  to  his  own  particular 
case,  provided  it  had  a  little  tinge  of  wholesome  bitterness,  and 
treated  of  the  injustice  of  the  world. 

Yet  he  was  social  and  kind-hearted,  and,  provided  he  could 
be  diverted  from  his  wrongs  and  his  philosophy,  was  an  enter 
taining  companion.  I  like  these  old  weather-beaten  sons  of  A 
fortune,  and  enjoy  their  rough  campaigning  anecdotes.  In  the  \ 
course  of  my  visits  to  the  one  in  question,  I  learnt  some  curious 
facts  about  an  old  military  commander  of  the  fortress,  who 
seems  to  have  resembled  him  in  some  respects,  and  to  have  had 
similar  fortunes  in  the  wars.  These  particulars  have  been  aug 
mented  by  inquiries  among  some  of  the  old  inhabitants  of  the 
place,  particularly  the  father  of  Mateo  Ximenes,  of  whose  tra 
ditional  stories  the  worthy  I  am  about  to  introduce  to  the 
reader  was  a  favorite  hero. 


THE  GOVERNOR  AND  THE  NOTARY 

IN  former  times  there  ruled,  as  governor  of  the  Alhambra,  a 
doughty  old  cavalier,  who,  from  having  lost  one  arm  in  the 
wars,  was  commonly  known  by  the  name  of  el  Gobernador 
Manco,  or  "  the  one-armed  governor."  He  in  fact  prided  him 
self  upon  being  an  old  soldier,  wore  his  moustaches  curled  up 
to  his  eyes,  a  pair  of  campaigning  boots,  and  a  toledo  as  long 
as  a  spit,  with  his  pocket-handkerchief  in  the  basket-hilt. 

He  was,  moreover,  exceedingly  proud  and  punctilious,  and 
tenacious  of  all  his  privileges  and  dignities.  Under  his  sway 
the  immunities  of  the  Alhambra,  as  a  royal  residence  and  do 
main,  were  rigidly  exacted.  No  one  was  permitted  to  enter 


264  THE    ALHAMBRA 

the  fortress  with  firearms,  or  even  with  a  sword  or  staff,  unless 
he  were  of  a  certain  rank  ;  and  every  horseman  was  obliged  to 
dismount  at  the  gate,  and  lead  his  horse  by  the  bridle.  Now 
as  the  hill  of  the  Alhambra  rises  from  the  very  midst  of  the 
city  of  Granada,  being,  as  it  were,  an  excrescence  of  the  capital, 
it  must  at  all  times  be  somewhat  irksome  to  the  captain-gen 
eral,  who  commands  the  province,  to  have  thus  an  imperium 
in  imperio,  a  petty  independent  post  in  the  very  centre  of  his 
domains.  It  was  rendered  the  more  galling,  in  the  present  in 
stance,  from  the  irritable  jealousy  of  the  old  governor,  that  took 
fire  on  the  least  question  of  authority  and  jurisdiction ;  and 
from  the  loose,  vagrant  character  of  the  people  who  had  gradu 
ally  nestled  themselves  within  the  fortress,  as  in  a  sanctuary, 
and  thence  carried  on  a  system  of  roguery  and  depredation  at 
the  expense  of  the  honest  inhabitants  of  the  city.  . 

Thus  there  was  a  perpetual  feud  and  heart-burning  between 
the  cap  tain -general  and  the  governor,  the  more  virulent  on  the 
part  of  the  latter,  inasmuch  as  the  smallest  of  two  neighboring 
potentates  is  always  the  most  captious  about  his  dignity.  The 
stately  palace  of  the  captain-general  stood  in  the  Plaza  Nueva, 
immediately  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  of  the  Alhambra ;  and  here 
was  always  a  bustle  and  parade  of  guards,  and  domestics,  and 
city  functionaries.  A  beetling  bastion  of  the  fortress  over 
looked  the  palace  and  public  square  in  front  of  it,  and  on  this 
bastion  the  old  governor  would  occasionally  strut  backwards 
and  forwards,  with  his  toledo  girded  by  his  side,  keeping  a  wary 
eye  down  upon  his  rival,  like  a  hawk  reconnoitring  his  quarry 
from  his  nest  in  a  dry  tree. 

Whenever  he  descended  into  the  city,  it  was  in  grand  parade ; 
on  horseback,  surrounded  by  his  guards ;  or  in  his  state  coach, 
an  ancient  and  unwieldy  Spanish  edifice  of  carved  timber  and 
gilt  leather,  drawn  by  eight  mules,  with  running  footmen,  out 
riders,  and  lackeys  ;  on  which  occasions  he  flattered  himself 
he  impressed  every  beholder  with  awe  and  admiration  as  vice- 


RIVAL    POTENTATES  265 

gerent  of  the  king ;  though  the  wits  of  Granada,  particularly 
those  who  loitered  about  the  palace  of  the  captain-general, 
were  apt  to  sneer  at  his  petty  parade,  and,  in  allusion  to  the 
vagrant  character  of  his  subjects,  to  greet  him  with  the  appel 
lation  of  "  the  king  of  the  beggars."  One  of  the  most  fruitful 
sources  of  dispute  between  these  two  doughty  rivals  was  the  right 
claimed  by  the  governor  to  have  all  things  passed  free  of  duty 
through  the  city  that  were  intended  for  the  use  of  himself  or 
his  garrison.  By  degrees  thjs  privilege  had  given  rise  to  exten 
sive  smuggling.  A  nest  of  contrabandistas  took  up  their  abode 
in  the  hovels  of  the  fortress  and  the  numerous  caves  in  its 
vicinity,  and  drove  a  thriving  business  under  the  connivance  of 
the  soldiers  of  the  garrison. 

The  vigilance  of  the  captain-general  was  aroused.  He  con 
sulted  his  legal  adviser  and  factotum,  a  shrewd,  meddlesome 
escribano,  or  notary,  who  rejoiced  in  an  opportunity  of  perplex 
ing  the  old  potentate  of  the  Alhambra,  and  involving  him  in  a 
maze  of  legal  subtleties.  He  advised  the  captain-general  to 
insist  upon  the  right  of  examining  every  convoy  passing  through 
the  gates  of  his  city,  and  penned  a  long  letter  for  him  in  vindi 
cation  of  the  right.  Governor  Manco  was  a  straightforward 
cut-and-thrust  old  soldier,  who  hated  an  escribano  worse  than 
the  devil,  and  this  one  in  particular  worse  than  all  other  escri- 


"  What !  "  said  he,  curling  up  his  moustaches  fiercely,  "does 
the  captain-general  set  his  man  of  the  pen  to  practise  confu 
sions  upon  me?  I'll  let  him  see  an  old  soldier  is  not  to  be 
baffled  by  schoolcraft." 

He  seized  his  pen  and  scrawled  a  short  letter  in  a  crabbed 
hand,  in  which,  without  deigning  to  enter  into  argument,  he 
insisted  on  the  right  of  transit  free  of  search,  and  denounced 
vengeance  on  any  custom-house  officer  who  should  lay  his  un 
hallowed  hand  on  any  convoy  protected  by  the  flag  of  the 
Alhambra.  While  this  question  was  agitated  between  the  two 


266  THE    ALHAMBRA 

pragmatical  potentates,  it  so  happened  that  a  mule  laden  with 
supplies  for  the  fortress  arrived  one  day  at  the  gate  of  Xenil, 
by  which  it  was  to  traverse  a  suburb  of  the  city  on  its  way  to 
the  Alhambra.  The  convoy  was  headed  by  a  testy  old  corporal, 
who  had  long  served  under  the  governor,  and  was  a  man  after 
his  own  heart,  as  rusty  and  stanch  as  an  old  Toledo  blade. 

As  they  approached  the  gate  of  the  city,  the  corporal  placed 
the  banner  of  the  Alhambra  on  the  pack-saddle  of  the  mule, 
and  drawing  himself  up  to  a  perfect  perpendicular,  advanced 
with  his  head  dressed  to  the  front,  but  with  the  wary  side- 
glance  of  a  cur  passing  through  hostile  ground  and  ready  for 
a  snap  and  a  snarl. 

"Who  goes  there?"  said  the  sentinel  at  the  gate. 

"  Soldier  of  the  Alhambra !  "  said  the  corporal,  without  turn 
ing  his  head. 

"What  have  you  in  charge?" 

"Provisions  for  the  garrison." 

"  Proceed." 

The  corporal  marched  straight  forward,  followed  by  the  con 
voy,  but  had  not  advanced  many  paces  before  a  posse  of  custom 
house  officers  rushed  out  of  a  small  toll-house. 

"  Hallo  there  !  "  cried  the  leader.  "  Muleteer,  halt,  and  open 
those  packages." 

The  corporal  wheeled  round  and  drew  himself  up  in  battle 
array.  "  Kespect  the  flag  of  the  Alhambra,"  said  he ;  "  these 
things  are  for  the  governor." 

"  A  figo  for  the  governor  and  a  figo  for  his  flag.  Muleteer, 
halt,  I  say." 

"  Stop  the  convoy  at  your  peril !  "  cried  the  corporal,  cocking 
his  musket.  "  Muleteer,  proceed." 

The  muleteer  gave  his  beast  a  hearty  thwack ;  the  custom 
house  officer  sprang  forward  and  seized  the  halter ;  whereupon 
the  corporal  levelled  his  piece  and  shot  him  dead. 

The  street  was  immediately  in  an  uproar, 


LEGAL    TILTING  267 

The  old  corporal  was  seized,  and  after  undergoing  sundry 
kicks,  and  cuffs,  and  cudgellings,  which  are  generally  given  im 
promptu  by  the  mob  in  Spain  as  a  foretaste  of  the  after  penal 
ties  of  the  law,  he  was  loaded  with  irons  and  conducted  to  the 
city  prison,  while  his  comrades  were  permitted  to  proceed  with 
the  convoy,  after  it  had  been  well  rummaged,  to  the  Alhambra. 

The  old  governor  was  in  a  towering  passion  when  he  heard 
of  this  insult  to  his  flag  and  capture  of  his  corporal.  For  a 
time  he  stormed  about  the  Moorish  halls,  and  vapored  about 
the  bastions,  and  looked  down  fire  and  sword  upon  the  palace 
of  the  captain-general.  Having  vented  the  first  ebullition  of 
his  wrath,  he  dispatched  a  message  demanding  the  surrender 
of  the  corporal,  as  to  him  alone  belonged  the  right  of  sitting  in 
judgment  on  the  offences  of  those  under  his  command.  The 
captain-general,  aided  by  the  pen  of  the  delighted  escribano, 
replied  at  great  length,  arguing,  that,  as  the  offence  had  been 
committed  within  the  walls  of  his  city,  and  against  one  of  his 
civil  officers,  it  was  clearly  within  his  proper  jurisdiction.  The 
governor  rejoined  by  a  repetition  of  his  demand ;  the  captain- 
general  gave  a  surrejoinder  of  still  greater  length  and  legal 
acumen ;  the  governor  became  hotter  and  more  peremptory  in 
his  demands,  and  the  captain-general  cooler  and  more  copious 
in  his  replies  ;  until  the  old  lion-hearted  soldier  absolutely  roared 
with  fury  at  being  thus  entangled  in  the  meshes  of  legal  con 
troversy. 

While  the  subtle  escribano  was  thus  amusing  himself  at  the 
expense  of  the  governor,  he  was  conducting  the  trial  of  the 
corporal,  who,  mewed  up  in  a  narrow  dungeon  of  the  prison, 
had  merely  a  small  grated  window  at  which  to  show  his  iron- 
bound  visage  and  receive  the  consolations  of  his  friends. 

A  mountain  of  written  testimony  was  diligently  heaped  up, 
according  to  Spanish  form,  by  the  indefatigable  escribano ;  the 
corporal  was  completely  overwhelmed  by  it.  He  was  convicted 
of  murder,  and  sentenced  to  be  hanged. 


268  THE    ALHAMBRA 

It  was  in  vain  the  governor  sent  down  remonstrance  and 
menace  from  the  Alhambra.  The  fatal  day  was  at  hand,  and 
the  corporal  was  put  in  capilla,  that  is  to  say,  in  the  chapel 
of  the  prison,  as  is  always  done  with  culprits  the  day  before 
execution,  that  they  may  meditate  on  their  approaching  end 
and  repent  them  of  their  sins. 

Seeing  things  drawing  to  extremity,  the  old  governor  deter 
mined  to  attend  to  the  affair  in  person.  For  this  purpose  he 
ordered  out  his  carriage  of  state,  and,  surrounded  by  his  guards, 
rumbled  down  the  avenue  of  the  Alhambra  into  the  city.  Driv 
ing  to  the  house  of  the  escribano,  he  summoned  him  to  the 
portal. 

The  eye  of  the  old  governor  gleamed  like  a  coal  at  beholding 
the  smirking  man  of  the  law  advancing  with  an  air  of  exultation. 

"  What  is  this  I  hear,"  cried  he,  "  that  you  are  about  to  put 
to  death  one  of  my  soldiers  ? " 

"All  according  to  law  —  all  in  strict  form  of  justice,"  said 
the  self-sufficient  escribano,  chuckling  and  rubbing  his  hands; 
"  I  can  show  your  Excellency  the  written  testimony  in  the  case." 

"  Fetch  it  hither,"  said  the  governor.  The  escribano  bustled 
into  his  office,  delighted  with  having  another  opportunity  of  dis 
playing  his  ingenuity  at  the  expense  of  the  hard-headed  veteran. 
He  returned  with  a  satchel  full  of  papers,  and  began  to  read 
a  long  deposition  with  professional  volubility.  By  this  time  a 
crowd  had  collected,  listening  with  outstretched  necks  and  gaping 
mouths. 

"  Prithee,  man,  get  into  the  carriage,  out  of  this  pestilent 
throng,  that  I  may  the  better  hear  thee,"  said  the  governor. 

The  escribano  entered  the  carriage,  when,  in  a  twinkling, 
the  door  was  closed,  the  coachman  smacked  his  whip,  —  mules, 
carriage,  guards,  and  all  dashed  off  at  a  thundering  rate,  leav 
ing  the  crowd  in  gaping  wonderment ;  nor  did  the  governor 
pause  until  he  had  lodged  his  prey  in  one  of  the  strongest 
dungeons  of  the  Alhambra. 


THE    RIVAL    GIBBETS  269 

He  then  sent  down  a  flag  of  truce  in  military  style,  propos 
ing  a  cartel,  or  exchange  of  prisoners,  —  the  corporal  for  the 
notary.  The  pride  of  the  captain-general  was  piqued;  he  re 
turned  a  contemptuous  refusal,  and  forthwith  caused  a  gallows, 
tall  and  strong,  to  be  erected  in  the  centre  of  the  Plaza  Nueva 
for  the  execution  of  the  corporal. 

"  Oho  !  is  that  the  game  1 "  said  Governor  Manco.  He  gave 
orders,  and  immediately  a  gibbet  was  reared  on  the  verge  of 
the  great  beetling  bastion  that  overlooked  the  Plaza.  "Now," 
said  he,  in  a  message  to  the  captain-general,  uhang  my  soldier 
when  you  please ;  but  at  the  same  time  that  he  is  swung  off  in 
the  square,  look  up  to  see  your  escribano  dangling  against  the 
sky." 

The  captain-general  was  inflexible ;  troops  were  paraded  in 
the  square,  the  drums  beat,  the  bell  tolled.  An  immense  mul 
titude  of  amateurs  gathered  together  to  behold  the  execution. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  governor  paraded  his  garrison  on  the 
bastion,  and  tolled  the  funeral  dirge  of  the  notary  from  the 
Torre  de  la  Campana,  or  Tower  of  the  Bell. 

The  notary's  wife  pressed  through  the  crowd,  with  a  whole 
progeny  of  little  embryo  escribanos  at  her  heels,  and  throwing 
herself  at  the  feet  of  the  captain-general,  implored  him  not  to 
sacrifice  the  life  of  her  husband,  and  the  welfare  of  herself  and 
her  numerous  little  ones,  to  a  point  of  pride ;  "for  you  know 
the  old  governor  too  well,"  said  she,  "to  doubt  that  he  will  put 
his  threat  in  execution,  if  you  hang  the  soldier." 

The  captain-general  was  overpowered  by  her  tears  and  lamen 
tations,  and  the  clamors  of  her  callow  brood.  The  corporal  was 
sent  up  to  the  Alhambra,  under  a  guard,  in  his  gallows  garb, 
like  a  hooded  friar,  but  with  head  erect  and  a  face  of  iron. 
The  escribano  was  demanded  in  exchange,  according  to  the 
cartel.  The  once  bustling  and  self-sufficient  man  of  the  law 
was  drawn  forth  from  his  dungeon  more  dead  than  alive.  All 
his  flippancy  and  conceit  had  evaporated ;  his  hair,  it  is  said, 


270  «  THE    ALHAMBRA 

had  nearly  turned  gray  with  affright,  and  he  had  a  downcast, 
dogged  look,  as  if  he  still  felt  the  halter  round  his  neck. 

The  old  governor  stuck  his  one  arm  akimbo,  and  for  a  mo 
ment  surveyed  him  with  an  iron  smile.  "  Henceforth,  my 
friend,"  said  he,  "  moderate  your  zeal  in  hurrying  others  to  the 
gallows ;  be  not  too  certain  of  your  safety,  even  though  you 
should  have  the  law  on  your  side ;  and,  above  all,  take  care  how 
you  play  off  your  schoolcraft  another  time  upon  an  old  soldier." 


GOVERNOR  MANGO  AND   THE   SOLDIER 

WHILE  Governor  Manco,  or  "  the  one-armed,"  kept  up  a  show 
of  military  state  in  the  Alhambra,  he  became  nettled  at  the  re 
proaches  continually  cast  upon  his  fortress,  of  being  a  nestling- 
place  of  rogues  and  contrabandistas.  On  a  sudden,  the  old 
potentate  determined  on  reform,  and  setting  vigorously  to  work, 
ejected  whole  nests  of  vagabonds  out  of  the  fortress  and  the 
gypsy  caves  with  which  the  surrounding  hills  are  jbpjQeycoinbe.d. 
He  sent  out  soldiers,  also,  to  patrol  the  avenues  and  footpaths, 
with  orders  to  take  up  all  suspicious  persons. 

One  bright  summer  morning  a  patrol,  consisting  of  the  testy 
old  corporal  who  had  distinguished  himself  in  the  affair  of  the 
notary,  a  trumpeter,  and  two  privates,  was  seated  under  the 
garden-wall  of  the  Generalife,  beside  the  road  which  leads  down 
from  the  Mountain  of  the  Sun,  when  they  heard  the  tramp  of 
a  horse,  and  a  male  voice  singing  in  rough,  though  not  un 
musical  tones,  an  old  Castilian  campaigning- song. 

Presently  they  beheld  a  sturdy,  sunburnt  fellow,  clad  in  the 
ragged  garb  of  a  foot-soldier,  leading  a  powerful  Arabian  horse 
caparisoned  in  the  ancient  Morisco  fashion. 

Astonished  at  the  sight  of  a  strange  soldier  descending,  steed 
in  hand,  from  that  solitary  mountain,  the  corporal  stepped 
forth  and  challenged  him. 


THE    SOLDIER    AND    THE    PATROL  271 

"  Who  goes  there  ?  " 

"A  friend." 

"  Who  and  what  are  you  ? " 

"  A  poor  soldier  just  from  the  wars,  with  a  cracked  crown 
and  empty  purse  for  a  reward." 

By  this  time  they  were  enabled  to  view  him  more  narrowly. 
He  had  a  black  patch  across  his  forehead,  which,  with  a  griz 
zled  beard,  added  to  a  certain  dare-devil  cast  of  countenance, 
while  a  slight  squint  threw  into  the  whole  an  occasional  gleam 
of  roguish  good-humor. 

Having  answered  the  questions  of  the  patrol,  the  soldier 
seemed  to  consider  himself  entitled  to  make  others  in  return. 
"  May  I  ask,"  said  he,  "what  city  is  that  which  I  see  at  the 
foot  of  the  hill? " 

"  What  city !  "  cried  the  trumpeter ;  "  come,  that's  too  bad. 
Here's  a  fellow  lurking  about  the  Mountain  of  the  Sun,  and  de 
mands  the  name  of  the  great  city  of  Granada  !  " 

"  Granada  !     Madre  di  Dios  !  can  it  be  possible  ? " 

"  Perhaps  not !  "  rejoined  the  trumpeter  ;  "  and  perhaps 
you  have  no  idea  that  yonder  are  the  towers  of  the  Alham- 
bra." 

"  Son  of  a  trumpet,"  replied  the  stranger,  "do  not  trifle  with 
me  ;  if  this  be  indeed  the  Alhambra,  I  have  some  strange 
matters  to  reveal  to  the  governor." 

"You  will  have  an  opportunity,"  said  the  corporal,  "for  we 
mean  to  take  you  before  him."  By  this  time  the  trumpeter 
had  seized  the  bridle  of  the  steed,  the  two  privates  had  each 
secured  an  arm  of  the  soldier,  the  corporal  put  himself  in  front, 
gave  the  word,  "  Forward  —  march  !  "  and  away  they  marched 
for  the  Alhambra. 

The  sight  of  a  ragged  foot-soldier  and  a  fine  Arabian  horse, 
brought  in  captive  by  the  patrol,  attracted  the  attention  of  all  the 
idlers  of  the  fortress,  and  of  those  gossip  groups  that  generally 
assemble  about  wells  and  fountains  at  early  dawn.  The 


272  THE    ALHAMBEA 

wheel  of  the  cistern  paused  in  its  rotations,  and  the  slip 
shod  servant-maid  stood  gaping,  with  pitcher  in  hand,  as  the 
corporal  passed  by  with  his  prize.  A_motley  train  gradually 
gathered  in  the  rear  of  the  escort. 

Knowing  nods  and  winks  and  conjectures  passed  from  one  to 
another.  "It  is  a  deserter,5'  said  one ;  "  A  contrabandista," 
said  another;  "A  bandolero,"  said  a  third; — until  it  was 
affirmed  that  a  captain  of  a  desperate  band  of  robbers  had  been 
captured  by  the  prowess  of  the  corporal  and  his  patrol.  "  Well, 
well,"  said  the  old  crones,  one  to  another,  "  captain  or  not,  let 
him  get  out  of  the  grasp  of  old  Governor  Manco  if  he  can, 
though  he  is  but  one-handed." 

Governor  Manco  was  seated  in  one  of  the  inner  halls  of 
the  Alhambra,  taking  his  morning's  cup  of  chocolate  in  com 
pany  with  his  confessor,  —  a  fat  Franciscan  friar,  from  the 
neighboring  convent.  A  demure,  dark-eyed  damsel  of  Malaga, 
the  daughter  of  his  housekeeper,  was  attending  upon  him. 
The  world  hinted  that  the  damsel,  who,  with  all  her  demure- 
ness,  was  a  sly  buxom  baggage,  had  found  out  a  soft  spot 
in  the  iron  heart  of  the  old  governor,  and  held  complete  con- . 
trol  over  him.  But  let  that  pass  —  the  domestic  affairs  of 
these  mighty  potentates  of  the  earth  should  not  be  too  nar 
rowly  scrutinized. 

When  word  was  brought  that  a  suspicious  stranger  had  been 
taken  lurking  about  the  fortress,  and  was  actually  in  the  outer 
court,  in  durance  of  the  corporal,  waiting  the  pleasure  of  his 
Excellency,  the  pride  and  stateliness  of  office  swelled  the  bosom 
of  the  governor.  Giving  back  his  chocolate-cup  into  the  hands 
of  the  demure  damsel,  he  called  for  his  basket-hilted  sword, 
girded  it  to  his  side,  twirled  up  his  moustaches,  took  his  seat 
in  a  large  high-backed  chair,  assumed  a  bitter  and  forbidding 
aspect,  and  ordered  the  prisoner  into  his  presence.  The  soldier 
was  brought  in,  still  closely  pinioned  by  his  captors,  and 
guarded  by  the  corporal.  He  maintained,  however,  a  resolute, 


A    SOLDIER'S    STORY  273 

self-confident  air,  and  returned  the  sharp,  scrutinizing  look  of 
the  governor  with  an  easy  squint,  which  by  no  means  pleased 
the  punctilious  old  potentate. 

"  WellT^uIprit,"  said  the  governor,  after  he  had  regarded 
him  for  a  moment  in  silence,  "  what  have  you  to  say  for  your 
self —  who  are  you  1 " 

"  A  soldier,  just  from  the  wars,  who  has  brought  away  noth 
ing  but  scars  and  bruises." 

"  A  soldier  —  humph  —  a  foot-soldier  by  your  garb.  I 
understand  you  have  a  fine  Arabian  horse.  I  presume  you 
brought  him  too  from  the  wars,  besides  your  scars  and  bruises." 

"May  it  please  your  Excellency,  I  have  something  strange 
to  tell  about  that  horse.  Indeed  I  have  one  of  the  most 
wonderful  things  to  relate.  Something  too  that  concerns  the 
security  of  this  fortress,  indeed  of  all  Granada.  But  it  is  a 
matter  to  be  imparted  only  to  your  private  ear,  or  in  presence 
of  such  only  as  are  in  your  confidence." 

The  governor  considered  for  a  moment,  and  then  directed 
the  corporal  and  his  men  to  withdraw,  but  to  post  themselves 
outside  of  the  door,  and  be  ready  at  a  call.  "  This  holy  friar," 
said  he,  "is  my  confessor,  you  may  say  anything  in  his  pres 
ence; —  and  this  damsel,"  nodding  towards  the  handmaid, 
who  had  loitered  with  an  air  of  great  curiosity,  "  this  damsel 
is  of  great  secrecy  and  discretion,  and  to  be  trusted  with  any 
thing." 

The  soldier  gave  a  glance  between  a  squint  and  a  leer  at  the 
demure  handmaid.  "I  am  perfectly  willing,"  said  he,  "that 
the  damsel  should  remain." 

When  all  the  rest  had  withdrawn,  the  soldier  commenced  his 
story.  He  was  a  fluent,  smooth-tongued  varlet,  and  had  a  com 
mand  of  language  above  his  apparent  rank. 

"May  it  please  your  Excellency,"  said  he,  "  I  am,  as  I  before 
observed,  a  soldier,  and  have  seen  some  hard  service,  but  my  term 
of  enlistment  being  expired,  I  was  discharged,  not  long  since, 


274  THE    ALHAMBEA 

from  the  army  at  Valladolid,  and  set  out  on  foot  for  my  native 
village  in  Andalusia.  Yesterday  evening  the  sun  went  down  as 
I  was  traversing  a  great  dry  plain  of  Old  Castile." 

"  Hold  !  "  cried  the  governor,  "  what  is  this  you  say?  Old 
Castile  is  some  two  or  three  hundred  miles  from  this." 

"  Even  so,"  replied  the  soldier,  coolly.  "  I  told  your  Excel 
lency  I  had  strange  things  to  relate ;  but  not  more  strange  than 
true,  as  your  Excellency  will  find,  if  you  will  deign  me  a  patient 
hearing." 

"  Proceed,  culprit,"  said  the  governor,  twirling  up  his  mous 
taches. 

"  As  the  sun  went  down,"  continued  the  soldier,  "  I  cast  my 
eyes  about  in  search  of  quarters  for  the  night,  but  as  far  as  my 
sight  could  reach  there  were  no  signs  of  habitation.  I  saw  that 
I  should  have  to  make  my  bed  on  the  naked  plain,  with  my 
knapsack  for  a  pillow ;  but  your  Excellency  is  an  old  soldier, 
and  knows  that  to  one  who  has  been  in  the  wars,  such  a  night's 
lodging  is  no  great  hardship." 

The  governor  nodded  assent,  as  he  drew  his  pocket-handker 
chief  out  of  the  basket-hilt  to  drive  away  a  fly  that  buzzed 
about  his  nose. 

"Well,  to  make  a  long  story  short,"  continued  the  soldier, 
"  I  trudged  forward  for  several  miles  until  I  came  to  a  bridge 
over  a  deep  ravine,  through  which  ran  a  little  thread  of  water, 
almost  dried  up  by  the  summer  heat.  At  one  end  of  the  bridge 
was  a  Moorish  tower,  the  upper  end  all  in  ruins,  but  a  vault  in 
the  foundation  quite  entire.  Here,  thinks  I,  is  a  good  place  to 
make  a  halt ;  so  I  went  down  to  the  stream,  and  took  a  hearty 
drink,  for  the  water  was  pure  and  sweet,  and  I  was  parched 
with  thirst ;  then,  opening  my  wallet,  I  took  out  an  onion  and 
a  few  crusts,  which  were  all  my  provisions,  and  seating  myself 
on  a  stone  on  the  margin  of  the  stream,  began  to  make  my  sup 
per,  —  intending  afterwards  to  quarter  myself  for  the  night  in 
the  vault  of  the  tower ;  and  capital  quarters  they  would  have 


THE    MOORISH    TROOPER  275 

been  for  a  campaigner  just  from  the  wars,  as  your  Excellency, 
who  is  an  old  soldier,  may  suppose.'7 

"  I  have  put  up  gladly  with  worse  in  my  time,"  said  the 
governor,  returning  his  pocket-handkerchief  into  the  hilt  of  his 
sword. 

"While  I  was  quietly  crunching  my  crusts,"  pursued  the  sol 
dier,  "I  heard  something  stir  within  the  vault;  I  listened  —  it 
was  the  tramp  of  a  horse.  By-and-by  a  man  came  forth  from  a 
door  in  the  foundation  of  the  tower,  close  by  the  water's  edge, 
leading  a  powerful  horse  by  the  bridle.  I  could  not  well  make 
out  what  he  was,  by  the  starlight.  It  had  a  suspicious  look 
to  be  lurking  among  the  ruins  of  a  tower,  in  that  wild,  solitary 
place.  He  might  be  a  mere  wayfarer,  like  myself;  he  might 
be  a  contrabandista ;  he  might  be  a  bandolero  !  what  of  that  ? 
thank  heaven  and  my  poverty,  I  had  nothing  to  lose ;  so  I  sat 
still  and  crunched  my  crust. 

"  He  led  his  horse  to  the  water,  close  by  where  I  was  sitting, 
so  that  I  had  a  fair  opportunity  of  i^cminpjtiia^'him.  To  my 
surprise  he  was  dressed  in  a  Moorish  garb,  with  a  cuirass  of 
steel,  and  a  polished  skull-cap  that  I  distinguished  bytne  re 
flection  of  the  stars  upon  it.  His  horse,  too,  was  harnessed 
in  the  Morisco  fashion,  with  great  shovel  stirrups.  He  led 
him,  as  I  said,  to  the  side  of  the  stream,  into  which  the  animal 
plunged  his  head  almost  to  the  eyes,  and  drank  until  I  thought 
he  would  have  burst. 

"  '  Comrade,'  said  I,  'your  steed  drinks  well ;  it's  a  good  sign 
when  a  horse  plunges  his  muzzle  bravely  into  the  water.' 

"  l  He  may  well  drink,'  said  the  stranger,  speaking  with  a 
Moorish  accent ;  '  it  is  a  good  year  since  he  had  his  last  draught.' 

"  'By  Santiago,'  said  I,  'that  beats  even  the  camels  I  have 
seen  in  Africa.  But  come,  you  seem  to  be  something  of  a  sol 
dier,  will  you  sit  down  and  take  part  of  a  soldier's  fare  ? '  In 
fact,  I  felt  the  want  of  a  companion  in  this  lonely  place,  and 
was  willing  to  put  up  with  an  infidel.  Besides,  as  your  Excel- 


276  THE    ALHAMBRA 

lency  well  knows,  a  soldier  is  never  very  particular  about  the 
faith  of  his  company,  and  soldiers  of  all  countries  are  comrades 
on  peaceable  grounds." 

The  governor  again  nodded  assent. 

"  Well,  as  I  was  saying,  I  invited  him  to  share  my  supper, 
such  as  it  was,  for  I  could  not  do  less  in  common  hospitality. 
'  I  have  no  time  to  pause  for  meat  or  drink,'  said  he,  'I  have  a 
long  journey  to  make  before  morning.' 

"  *  In  what  direction  V  said  I. 

"  '  Andalusia,'  said  he. 

"  '  Exactly  my  route,'  said  I ;  'so,  as  you  won't  stop  and  eat 
with  me,  perhaps  you  will  let  me  mount  and  ride  with  you.  I 
see  your  horse  is  of  a  powerful  frame ;  I'll  warrant  he'll  carry 
double.' 

" '  Agreed/  said  the  trooper ;  and  it  would  not  have  been 
civil  and  soldier-like  to  refuse,  especialty  as  I  had  offered  to  share 
my  supper  with  him.  So  up  he  mounted,  and  up  I  mounted 
behind  him. 

"  '  Hold  fast,'  said  he,  '  my  steed  goes  like  the  wind.' 

"  f  Never  fear  me,'  said  I,  and  so  off  we  set. 

"  From  a  walk  the  horse  soon  passed  to  a  trot,  from  a  trot 
to  a  gallop,  and  from  a  gallop  to  a  harum-scarum  scamper.  It 
seemed  as  if  rocks,  trees,  houses,  everything  flew  hurry-scurry 
behind  us. 

"  <  What  town  is  this  ? '  said  I. 

"' Segovia,'  said  he;  and  before  the  word  was  out  of  his 
mouth  the  towers  of  Segovia  were  out  of  sight.  We  swept 
up  the  Guadarama  mountains,  and  down  by  the  Escurial ;  and 
we  skirted  the  walls  of  Madrid,  and  we  scoured  away  across  the 
plains  of  La  Mancha.  In  this  way  we  went  up  hill  and  down 
dale,  by  towers  and  cities,  all  buried  in  deep  sleep,  and  across 
mountains,  and  plains,  and  rivers,  just  glimmering  in  the  star 
light. 

"  To  make  a  long  story  short,  and  not  to  fatigue  your  Excel- 


THE    ENCHANTED    CAVERN  277 

lency,  the  trooper  suddenly  pulled  up  on  the  side  of  a  mountain. 
*  Here  we  are,'  said  he,  'at  the  end  of  our  journey.'  I  looked 
about,  but  could  see  no  signs  of  habitation ;  nothing  but  the 
mouth  of  a  cavern.  While  I  looked  I  saw  multitudes  of  people 
in  Moorish  dresses,  some  on  horseback,  some  on  foot,  arriving  as 
if  borne  by  the  wind  from  all  points  of  the  compass,  and  hurry 
ing  into  the  mouth  of  the  cavern  like  bees  into  a  hive.  Before 
I  could  ask  a  question,  the  trooper  struck  his  long  Moorish 
spurs  into  the  horse's  flanks,  and  dashed  in  with  the  throng. 
We  passed  along  a  steep  winding  way,  that  descended  into  the 
very  bowels  of  the  mountain.  As  we  pushed  on,  a  light  began 
to  glimmer  up,  by  little  and  little,  like  the  first  glimmerings  of 
day,  but  what  caused  it  I  could  not  discern.  It  grew  stronger 
and  stronger,  and  enabled  me  to  see  everything  around.  I  now 
noticed,  as  we  passed  along,  great  caverns,  opening  to  the  right 
and  left,  like  halls  in  an  arsenal.  In  some  there  were  shields, 
and  helmets,  and  cuirasses,  and  lances,  and  cimeters,  hanging 
against  the  walls ;  in  others  there  were  great  heaps  of  warlike 
munitions  and  camp-equipage  lying  upon  the  ground. 

"  It  would  have  done  your  Excellency's  heart  good,  being  an 
old  soldier,  to  have  seen  such  grand  provision  for  war.  Then, 
in  other  caverns,  there  were  long  rows  of  horsemen  armed  to 
the  teeth}  with  lances  raised  and  banners  unfurled,  all  ready  for 
the  field;  but  they  all  sat  motionless  in  their  saddles,  like  so 
many  statues.  In  other  halls  were  warriors  sleeping  on  the 
ground  beside  their  horses,  and  foot-soldiers  in  groups  ready  to 
fall  into  the  ranks.  All  were  in  old-fashioned  Moorish  dresses 
and  armor. 

"Well,  your  Excellency,  to  cut  a  long  story  short,  we  at 
length  entered  an  immense  cavern,  or  I  may  say  palace,  of 
grotto-work,  the  walls  of  which  seemed  to  be  veined  with  gold 
and  silver,  and  to  sparkle  with  diamonds  and  sapphires  and  all 
kinds  of  precious  stones.  At  the  upper  end  sat  a  Moorish  king 
on  a  golden  throne,  with  his  nobles  on  each  side,  and  a  guard 


278  THE    ALHAMBRA 

of  African  blacks  with  drawn  cimeters.  All  the  crowd  that 
continued  to  flock  in,  and  amounted  to  thousands  and  thousands, 
passed  one  by  one  before  his  throne,  each  paying  homage  as  he 
passed.  Some  of  the  multitude  were  dressed  in  magnificent 
robes,  without  stain  or  blemish,  and  sparkling  with  jewels; 
others  in  burnished  and  enamelled  armor;  while  others  were 
in  mouldered  and  mildewed  garments,  and  in  armor  all  battered 
and  dented  and  covered  with  rust. 

"I  had  hitherto  held  my  tongue,  for  your  Excellency  well 
knows  it  is  not  for  a  soldier  to  ask  many  questions  when  on 
duty,  but  I  could  keep  silent  no  longer. 

" '  Prithee,  comrade,'  said  I,  *  what  is  the  meaning  of  all 
this?' 

"'This, 'said  the  trooper,  'is  a  great  and  fearful  mystery. 
Know,  0  Christian,  that  you  see  before  you  the  court  and  army 
of  Boabdil,  the  last  king  of  Granada/ 

"  '  What  is  this  you  tell  me  ? '  cried  I.  *  Boabdil  and  his 
court  were  exiled  from  the  land  hundreds  of  years  agone,  and 
all  died  in  Africa/ 

"  '  So  it  is  recorded  in  your  lying  chronicles/  replied  the  Moor; 
'  but  know  that  Boabdil  and  the  warriors  who  made  the  last 
struggle  for  Granada  were  all  shut  up  in  the  mountain  by 
powerful  enchantment.  As  for  the  king  and  army  thai;  marched 
forth  from  Granada  at  the  time  of  the  surrender,  they  were  a 
mere  phantom  train  of  spirits  and  demons,  permitted  to  assume 
those  shapes  to  deceive  the  Christian  sovereigns.  And  further 
more  let  me  tell  you,  friend,  that  all  Spain  is  a  country  under 
the  power  of  enchantment.  There  is  not  a  mountain  cave,  not 
a  lonely  watch-tower  in  the  plains,  nor  ruined  castle  on  the 
hills,  but  has  some  spellbound  warriors  sleeping  from  age  to 
age  within  its  vaults,  until  the  sins  are  QXjpjted  for  which 
Allah  permitted  the  dominion  to  pass  for  a~llme  out  of  the 
hands  of  the  faithful.  Once  every  year,  on  the  eve  of  St.  John, 
they  are  released  from  enchantment,  from  sunset  to  sunrise,  and 


THE    ENCHANTED    ARMY  279 

permitted  to  repair  here  to  pay  homage  to  their  sovereign ;  and 
the  crowds  which  you  beheld  swarming  into  the  cavern  are 
Moslem  warriors  from  their  haunts  in  all  parts  of  Spain.  For 
my  own  part,  you  saw  the  ruined  tower  of  the  bridge  in  Old 
Castile,  where  I  have  now  wintered  and  summered  for  many 
hundred  years,  and  where  I  must  be  back  again  by  daybreak. 
As  to  the  battalions  of  horse  and  foot  which  you  beheld  drawn 
up  in  array  in  the  neighboring  caverns,  they  are  the  spellbound 
warriors  of  Granada.  It  is  written  in  the  book  of  fate,  that 
when  the  enchantment  is  broken,  Boabdil  will  descend  from  the 
mountain  at  the  head  of  this  army,  resume  his  throne  in  the 
Alhambra  and  his  sway  of  Granada,  and  gathering  together 
the  enchanted  warriors  from  all  parts  of  Spain,  will  reconquer 
the  Peninsula  and  restore  it  to  Moslem  rule.' 

" '  And  when  shall  this  happen?'  said  I. 

"  ( Allah  alone  knows :  we  had  hoped  the  day  of  deliverance 
was  at  hand ;  but  there  reigns  at  present  a  vigilant  governor  in 
the  Alhambra,  a  stanch  old  soldier,  well  known  as  Governor 
Manco.  While  such  a  warrior  holds  command  of  the  very  out 
post,  and  stands  ready  to  check  the  first  irruption  from  the 
mountain,  I  fear  Boabdil  and  his  soldiery  must  be  content  to 
rest  upon  their  arms.'" 

Here  the  governor  raised  himself  somewhat  perpendicularly, 
adjusted  his  sword,  and  twirled  up  his  moustaches. 

"  To  make  a  long  story  short,  and  not  to  fatigue  your  Excel 
lency,  the  trooper,  having  given  me  this  account,  dismounted 
from  his  steed. 

"  '  Tarry  here,'  said  he,  'and  guard  my  steed  while  I  go  and 
bow  the  knee  to  Boabdil.'  So  saying,  he  strode  away  among 
the  throng  that  pressed  forward  to  the  throne. 

"  '  What's  to  be  done  ? '  thought  I,  when  thus  left  to  myself; 
1  shall  I  wait  here  until  this  infidel  returns  to  whisk  me  off 
on  his  goblin  steed,  the  Lord  knows  where ;  or  shall  I  make 
the  most  of  my  time  and  beat  a  retreat  from  this  hobgoblin 


280  THE    ALHAMBRA 

community?'  A  soldier's  mind  is  soon  made  up,  as  your 
Excellency  well  knows.  As  to  the  horse,  he  belonged  to  an 
avowed  enemy  of  the  faith  and  the  realm,  and  was  a  fair  prize 
according  to  the  rules  of  war.  So  hoisting  myself  from  the 
crupper  into  the  saddle,  I  turned  the  reins,  struck  the  Moorish 
stirrups  into  the  sides  of  the  steed,  and  put  him  to  make  the 
best  of  his  way  out  of  the  passage  by  which  he  had  entered. 
As  we  scoured  by  the  halls  where  the  Moslem  horsemen  sat  in 
motionless  battalions,  I  thought  I  heard  the  clang  of  armor  and 
a  hollow  murmur  of  voices.  I  gave  the  steed  another  taste  of 
the  stirrups  and  doubled  my  speed.  There  was  now  a  sound 
behind  me  like  a  rushing  blast ;  I  heard  the  clatter  of  a  thou 
sand  hoofs ;  a  countless  throng  overtook  me.  I  was  borne 
along  in  the  press,  and  hurled  forth  from  the  mouth  of  the 
cavern,  while  thousands  of  shadowy  forms  were  swept  off  in 
every  direction  by  the  four  winds  of  heaven. 

"  In  the  whirl  and  confusion  of  the  scene  I  was  thrown 
senseless  to  the  earth.  When  I  came  to  myself,  I  was  lying 
on  the  brow  of  a  hill,  with  the  Arabian  steed  standing  beside 
me;  for  in  falling,  my  arm  had  slipped  within  the  bridle, 
which,  I  presume,  prevented  his  whisking  off  to  Old  Castile. 

"Your  Excellency  may  easily  judge  of  my  surprise,  on  look 
ing  round,  to  behold  hedges  of  aloes  and  Indian  figs  and  other 
proofs  of  a  southern  climate,  and  to  see  a  great  city  below  me, 
with  towers,  and  a  grand  cathedral. 

"  I  descended  the  hill  cautiously,  leading  my  steed,  for  I  was 
afraid  to  mount  him  again,  lest  he  should  play  me  some  slippery 
trick.  As  I  descended  I  met  with  your  patrol,  who  let  me  into 
the  secret  that  it  was  Granada  that  lay  before  me,  and  that  I 
was  actually  under  the  walls  of  the  Alhambra,  the  fortress  of 
the  redoubted  Governor  Manco,  the  terror  of  all  enchanted 
Moslems.  When  I  heard  this,  I  determined  at  once  to  seek 
your  Excellency,  to  inform  you  of  all  that  I  had  seen,  and  to 
warn  you  of  the  perils  that  surround  and  undermine  you,  that 


A    MOORISH   PURSE  281 

you  may  take  measures  in  time  to  guard  your  fortress,  and  the 
kingdom  itself,  from  this  intestine  army  that  lurks  in  the  very 
bowels  of  the  land." 

"  And  prithee,  friend,  you  who  are  a  veteran  campaigner, 
and  have  seen  so  much  service,"  said  the  governor,  "how  would 
you  advise  me  to  proceed,  in  order  to  prevent  this  evil  ? " 

"  It  is  not  for  a  humble  private  of  the  ranks,"  said  the  soldier, 
modestly,  "  to  pretend  to  instruct  a  commander  of  your  Excel 
lency's  sagacity,  but  it  appears  to  me  that  your  Excellency 
might  cause  all  the  caves  and  entrances  into  the  mountains  to 
be  walled  up  with  solid  mason-work,  so  that  Boabdil  and  his 
army  might  be  completely  corked  up  in  their  subterranean 
habitation.  If  the  good  father,  too,"  added  the  soldier,  rev 
erently  bowing  to  the  friar,  and  devoutly  crossing  himself, 
"would  consecrate  the  barricadoes  with  his  blessing,  and  put 
up  a  few  crosses  and  relics  and  images  of  saints,  I  think  they 
might  withstand  all  the  power  of  infidel  enchantments." 

"  They  doubtless  would  be  of  great  avail,"  said  the  friar. 

The  governor  now  placed  his  arm  akimbo,  with  his  hand 
resting  on  the  hilt  of  his  toledo,  fixed  his  eye  upon  the  soldier, 
and  gently  wagging  his  head  from  one  side  to  the  other  :  — 

"So,  friend,"  said  he,  "then  you  really  suppose  I  am  to  be 
gulled  with  this  cock-and-bull  story  about  enchanted  mountains 
and  enchanted  Moors  ?  Hark  ye,  culprit !  —  not  another  word. 
An  old  soldier  you  may  be,  but  you'll  find  you  have  an  older 
soldier  to  deal  with,  and  one  not  easily  outgeneral  led."  Ho ! 
guards  there  !  put  this  fellow  in  irons." 

The  demure  handmaid  would  have  put  in  a  word  in  favor  of 
the  prisoner,  but  the  governor  silenced  her  with  a  look. 

As  they  were  pinioning  the  soldier,  one  of  the  guards  felt 
something  of  bulk  in  his  pocket,  and  drawing  it  forth,  found  a 
long  leathern  purse  that  appeared  to  be  well  filled.  Holding  it 
by  one  corner,  he  turned  out  the  contents  upon  the  table  before 
the  governor,  and  never  did  freebooter's  bag  make  more 


282  THE    ALHAMBRA 

gorgeous  delivery.  Out  tumbled  rings,  and  jewels,  and  rosaries 
of  pearls,  and  sparkling  diamond  crosses,  and  a  profusion  of 
ancient  golden  coin,  some  of  which  fell  jingling  to  the  floor,  and 
rolled  away  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  chamber. 

For  a  time  the  functions  of  justice  were  suspended  ;  there 
was  a  universal  scramble  after  the  glittering  fugitives.  The 
governor  alone,  who  was  imbued  with  true  Spanish  pride, 
maintained  his  stately  decorum,  though  his  eye  betrayed  a 
little  anxiety  until  the  last  coin  and  jewel  was  restored  to  the 
sack. 

The  friar  was  not  so  calm ;  his  whole  face  glowed  like  a 
furnace,  and  his  eyes  twinkled  and  flashed  at  the  sight  of 
rosaries  and  crosses. 

"  Sacrilegious  wretch  that  thou  art !  "  exclaimed  he  ;  "  what 
church  or  sanctuary  hast  thou  been  plundering  of  these  sacred 
relics?" 

"  Neither  one  nor  the  other,  holy  father.  If  they  be  sacri 
legious  spoils,  they  must  have  been  taken,  in  times  long  past, 
by  the  infidel  trooper  I  have  mentioned.  I  was  just  going  to 
tell  his  Excellency  when  he  interrupted  me,  that,  on  taking 
possession  of  the  trooper's  horse,  I  unhooked  a  leathern  sack 
which  hung  at  the  saddle-bow,  and  which  I  presume  contained 
the  plunder  of  his  campaignings  in  days  of  old,  when  the  Moors 
overran  the  country." 

"  Mighty  well ;  at  present  you  will  make  up  your  mind  to 
take  up  your  quarters  in  a  chamber  of  the  vermilion  tower, 
which,  though  not  under  a  magic  spell,  will  hold  you  as  safe  as 
any  cave  of  your  enchanted  Moors." 

"Your  Excellency  will  do  as  you  think  proper,"  said  the  pris 
oner,  coolly.  "  I  shall  be  thankful  to  your  Excellency  for  any 
accommodation  in  the  fortress.  A  soldier  who  has  been  in  the 
wars,  as  your  Excellency  well  knows,  is  not  particular  about  his 
lodgings.  Provided  I  have  a  snug  dungeon  and  regular  rations, 
I  shall  manage  to  make  myself  comfortable.  I  would  only  en- 


A    SOLDIER'S    QUARTERS  283 

treat  that  while  your  Excellency  is  so  careful  about  me,  you 
would  have  an  eye  to  your  fortress,  and  think  on  the  hint  I 
dropped  about  stopping  up  the  entrances  to  the  mountain." 

Here  ended  the  scene.  The  prisoner  was  conducted  to  a 
strong  dungeon  in  the  vermilion  tower,  the  Arabian  steed  was 
led  to  his  Excellency's  stable,  and  the  trooper's  sack  was  de 
posited  in  his  Excellency's  strong  box.  To  the  latter,  it  is  true, 
the  friar  made  some  demur,  questioning  whether  the  sacred  relics, 
which  were  evidently  sacrilegious  spoils,  should  not  be  placed  in 
custody  of  the  church ;  but  as  the  governor  was  peremptory  on 
the  subject,  and  was  absolute  lord  in  the  Alhambra,  the  friar 
discreetly  dropped  the  discussion,  but  determined  to  convey  in 
telligence  of  the  fact  to  the  church  dignitaries  in  Granada. 

To  explain  these  prompt  and  rigid  measures  on  the  part  of 
old  Governor  Manco,  it  is  proper  to  observe,  that  about  this 
time  the  Alpuxarra  mountains  in  the  neighborhood  of  Granada 
were  terribly  infested  by  a  gang  of  robbers,  under  the  command 
of  a  daring  chief  named  Manuel  Borasco,  who  were  accustomed 
to  prowl  about  the  country,  and  even  to  enter  the  city  in  vari 
ous  disguises,  to  gain  intelligence  of  the  departure  of  convoys 
of  merchandise,  or  travellers  with  well-lined  purses,  whom  they 
took  care  to  waylay  in  distant  and  solitary  passes  of  the  road. 
These  repeated  and  daring  outrages  had  awakened  the  attention 
of  government,  and  the  commanders  of  the  various  posts  had 
received  instructions  to  be  on  the  alert,  and  to  take  up  all  suspi 
cious  stragglers.  Governor  Manco  was  particularly  zealous  in 
consequence  of  the  various  stigmas  that  had  been  cast  upon  his 
fortress,  and  he  now  doubted  not  he  had  entrapped  some  formi 
dable  desperado  of  this  gang. 

In  the  meantime  the  story  took  wind,  and  became  the  talk, 
not  merely  of  the  fortress,  but  of  the  whole  city  of  Granada. 
It  was  said  that  the  noted  robber  Manuel  Borasco,  the  terror 
of  the  Alpuxarras,  had  fallen  into  the  clutches  of  old  Governor 
Manco,  and  been  cooped  up  by  him  in  a  dungeon  of  the  ver- 


284  THE    ALHAMBRA 

mil  ion  towers ;  and  every  one  who  had  been  robbed  by  him 
flocked  to  recognize  the  marauder.  The  vermilion  towers,  as  is 
well  known,  stand  apart  from  the  Alhambra  on  a  sister  hill, 
separated  from  the  main  fortress  by  the  ravine  down  which  passes 
the  main  avenue.  There  were  no  outer  walls,  but  a  sentinel 
patrolled  before  the  tower.  The  window  of  the  chamber  in 
which  the  soldier  was  confined  was  strongly  grated,  and  looked 
upon  a  small  esplanade.  Here  the  good  folks  of  Granada  repaired 
to  gaze  at  him,  as  they  would  at  a  laughing  hyena,  grinning 
through  the  cage  of  a  menagerie.  Nobody,  however,  recognized 
him  for  Manuel  Borasco,  for  that  terrible  robber  was  noted  for 
a  ferocious  physiognomy,  and  had  by  no  means  the  good-humored 
squint  of  the  prisoner.  Visitors  came  not  merely  from  the  city, 
but  from  all  parts  of  the  country ;  but  nobody  knew  him,  and 
there  began  to  be  doubts  in  the  minds  of  the  common  people 
whether  there  might  not  be  some  truth  in  his  story.  That 
Boabdil  and  his  army  were  shut  up  in  the  mountain,  was  an  old 
tradition  which  many  of  the  ancient  inhabitants  had  heard  from 
their  fathers.  Numbers  went  up  to  the  Mountain  of  the  Sun, 
or  rather  of  St.  Elena,  in  search  of  the  cave  mentioned  by  the 
soldier ;  and  saw  and  peeped  into  the  deep  dark  pit,  descending, 
no  one  knows  how  far,  into  the  mountain,  and  which  remains 
there  to  this  day  —  the  fabled  entrance  to  the  subterranean 
abode  of  Boabdil. 

By  degrees  the  soldier  became  popular  with  the  common  peo 
ple.  A  freebooter  of  the  mountains  is  by  no  means  the  oppro 
brious  character  in  Spain  that  a  robber  is  in  any  other  country ; 
on  the  contrary,  he  is  a  kind  of  chivalrous  personage  in  the  eyes 
of  the  lower  classes.  There  is  always  a  disposition,  also,  to 
cavil  at  the  conduct  of  those  in  command ;  and  many  began  to 
murmur  at  the  high-handed  measures  of  old  Governor  Manco, 
and  to  look  upon  the  prisoner  in  the  light  of  a  martyr. 

The  soldier,  moreover,  was  a  merry,  waggish  fellow,  that  had 
a  joke  for  every  one  who  came  near  his  window,  and  a  soft 


MANUEL    BORASCO  285 

speech  for  every  female.  He  had  procured  an  old  guitar  also, 
and  would  sit  by  his  window  and  sing  ballads  and  love-ditties 
to  the  delight  of  the  women  of  the  neighborhood,  who  would 
assemble  on  the  esplanade  in  the  evening  and  dance  boleros  to 
his  music.  Having  trimmed  off  his  rough  beard,  his  sunburnt 
face  found  favor  in  the  eyes  of  the  fair,  and  the  demure  hand 
maid  of  the  governor  declared  that  his  squint  was  perfectly 
irresistible.  This  kind-hearted  damsel  had  from  the  first  evinced 
a  deep  sympathy  in  his  fortunes,  and  having  in  vain  tried  to 
mollify  the  governor,  had  set  to  work  privately  to  mitigate  the 
rigor  of  his  dispensations.  Every  day  she  brought  the  prisoner 
some  crumbs  of  comfort  which  had  fallen  from  the  governor's 
table,  or  been  abstracted  from  his  larder,  together  with,  now 
and  then,  a  consoling  bottle  of  choice  Val  de  Peuas,  or  rich 
Malaga. 

While  this  petty  treason  was  going  on  in  the  very  centre  of 
the  old  governor's  citadel,  a  storm  of  open  war  was  brewing  up 
among  his  external  foes.  The  circumstance  of  a  bag  of  gold 
and  jewels  having  been  found  upon  the  person  of  the  supposed 
robber,  had  been  reported,  with  many  exaggerations,  in  Granada. 
A  question  of  territorial  jurisdiction  was  immediately  started  by 
the  governor's  inveterate  rival,  the  captain-general.  He  insisted 
that  the  prisoner  had  been  captured  without  the  precincts  of  the 
Alhambra,  and  within  the  rules  of  his  authority.  He  demanded 
his  body  therefore,  and  the  spolia  opima  taken  with  him.  Due 
information  having  been  carried  likewise  by  the  friar  to-  the  grand 
inquisitor  of  the  crosses  and  rosaries,  and  other  relics  contained 
in  the  bag,  he  claimed  the  culprit  as  having  been  guilty  of  sacri 
lege,  and  insisted  that  his  plunder  was  due  to  the  church,  and  his 
body  to  the  next  auto-de-fe.  The  feuds  ran  high  ;  the  governor 
was  furious,  and  swore,  rather  than  surrender  his  captive,  he 
would  hang  him  up  within  the  Alhambra,  as  a  spy  caught  within 
the  purlieus  of  the  fortress. 

The  captain -general  threatened  to  send  a  body  of  soldiers  to 


286  THE    ALHAMBRA 

transfer  the  prisoner  from  the  vermilion  tower  to  the  city.  The 
grand  inquisitor  was  equally  bent  upon  dispatching  a  number 
of  the  familiars  of  the  Holy  Office.  Word  was  brought  late  at 
night  to  the  governor  of  these  machinations.  "  Let  them  come," 
said  he,  " they '11  find  me  beforehand  with  them;  he  must  rise 
bright  and  early  who  would  take  in  an  old  soldier."  He  accord 
ingly  issued  orders  to  have  the  prisoner  removed,  at  daybreak, 
to  the  donjon-keep  within  the  walls  of  the  Alharnbra.  "  And 
d'ye  hear,  child,"  said  he  to  his  demure  handmaid,  "  tap  at  my 
door,  and  wake  me  before  cock-crowing,  that  I  may  see  to  the 
matter  myself." 

The  day  dawned,  the  cock  crowed,  but  nobody  tapped  at  the 
door  of  the  governor.  The  sun  rose  high  above  the  mountain- 
tops,  and  glittered  in  at  his  casement,  ere  the  governor  was 
awakened  from  bis  morning  dreams  by  his  veteran  corporal, 
who  stood  before  him  with  terror  stamped  upon  his  iron  visage. 

"  He's  off !  he's  gone  ! "  cried  the  corporal,  gasping  for  breath. 

"Who's  off— who's  gone?" 

"The  soldier  —  the  robber  —  the  devil,  for  aught  I  know; 
his  dungeon  is  empty,  but  the  door  locked:  no  one  knows  how 
he  has  escaped  out  of  it." 

"Who  saw  him  last?" 

"Your  handmaid;  she  brought  him  his  supper." 

"  Let  her  be  called  instantly." 

Here  was  new  matter  of  confusion.  The  chamber  of  the 
demure  damsel  was  likewise  empty,  her  bed  had  not  been  slept 
in:  she  had  doubtless  gone  off  with  the  culprit,  as  she  had 
appeared,  for  some  days  past,  to  have  frequent  conversations 
with  him. 

This  was  wounding  the  old  governor  in  a  tender  part,  but 
he  had  scarce  time  to  wince  at  it,  when  new  misfortunes  broke 
upon  his  view.  On  going  into  his  cabinet  he  found  his  strong 
box  open,  the  leather  purse  of  the  trooper  abstracted,  and  with 
it  a  couple  of  corpulent  bags  of  doubloons. 


A    FETE    IN    THE    ALHAMBEA  287 

But  how,  and  which  way  had  the  fugitives  escaped?  An  old 
peasant  who  lived  in  a  cottage  by  the  road-side  leading  up  into 
the  Sierra  declared  that  he  had  heard  the  tramp  of  a  powerful 
steed  just  before  daybreak,  passing  up  into  the  mountains.  He 
had  looked  out  at  his  casement,  and  could  just  distinguish  a 
horseman,  with  a  female  seated  before  him. 

"  Search  the  stables !  "  cried  Governor  Manco.  The  stables 
wTere  searched;  all  the  horses  were  in  their  stalls,  excepting  the 
Arabian  steed.  In  his  place  was  a  stout  cudgel,  tied  to  the 
manger,  and  on  it  a  label  bearing  these  words,  "A  Gift  to 
Governor  Manco,  from  an  Old  Soldier." 


A  FETE  IN   THE   ALHAMBRA 

THE  Saint's  day  of  my  neighbor  and  rival  potentate,  the 
count,  took  place  during  his  sojourn  in  the  Alhambra,  on  which 
occasion  he  gave  a  domestic  fete ;  assembling  round  him  the 
members  of  his  family  and  household,  while  the  stewards  and 
old  servants  from  his  distant  possessions  came  to  pay  him  rev 
erence  and  partake  of  the  good  cheer  which  was  sure  to  be  pro 
vided.  It  presented  a  type,  though  doubtless  a  faint  one,  of 
the  establishment  of  a  Spanish  noble  in  the  olden  time. 

The  Spaniards  were  always  grandiose  in  their  notions  of  style. 
Huge  palaces ;  lumbering  equipages,  laden  with  footmen  and 
lackeys ;  pompous  retinues,  and  useless  dependents  of  all  kinds ; 
the  dignity  of  a  noble  seemed  commensurate  with  the  legions 
who  loitered  about  his  halls,  fed  at  his  expense,  and  seemed 
ready  to  devour  him  alive.  This,  doubtless,  originated  in  the 
necessity  of  keeping  up  hosts  of  armed  retainers  during  the  wars 
with  the  Moors ;  wars  of  inroads  and  surprises ;  when  a  noble 
was  liable  to  be  suddenly  assailed  in  his  castle  by  a  foray  of  the 
enemy,  or  summoned  to  the  field  by  his  sovereign. 

The  custom  remained  after  the  wars  were  at  an  end ;  and  what 


288  THE    ALHAMBRA 

originated  in  necessity  was  kept  up  through  ostentation.  The 
wealth  which  flowed  into  the  country  from  conquests  and  dis 
coveries  fostered  the  passion  for  the  princely  establishments. 
According  to  magnificent  old  Spanish  usage,  in  which  pride  and 
generosity  bore  equal  parts,  a  superannuated  servant  was  never 
turned  off,  but  became  a  charge  for  the  rest  of  his  days ;  nay, 
his  children,  and  his  children's  children,  and  often  their  relatives, 
to  the  right  and  left,  became  gradually  entailed  upon  the  family. 
Hence  the  huge  palaces  of  the  Spanish  nobility,  which  have 
such  an  air  of  empty  ostentation  from  the  greatness  of  their 
size  compared  with  the  mediocrity  and  scantiness  of  their  fur 
niture,  were  absolutely  required,  in  the  golden  days  of  Spain, 
by  the  patriarchal  habits  of  their  possessors.  They  were  little 
better  than  vast  barracks  for  their  hereditary  generations  of 
hangers-on  that  battened  at  the  expense  of  a  Spanish  noble. 

These  patriarchal  habits  of  the  Spanish  nobility  have  declined 
with  their  revenues ;  though  the  spirit  which  prompted  them 
remains,  and  wars  sadly  with  their  altered  fortunes.  The  poor 
est  among  them  have  always  some  hereditary  hangers-on,  who 
live  at  their  expense,  and  make  them  poorer.  Some  who,  like 
my  neighbor  the  count,  retain  a  modicum  of  their  once  princely 
possessions,  keep  up  a  shadow  of  the  ancient  system,  and  their 
estates  are  overrun,  and  the  produce  consumed  by  generations 
of  idle  retainers. 

The  count  held  estates  in  various  parts  of  the  kingdom,  some 
including  whole  villages ;  yet  the  revenues  collected  from  them 
were  comparatively  small ;  some  of  them,  he  assured  me,  barely 
fed  the  hordes  of  dependents  nestled  upon  them,  who  seemed 
to  consider  themselves  entitled  to  live  rent-free  and  be  main 
tained  into  the  bargain,  because  their  forefathers  had  been  so 
since  time  immemorial. 

The  Saint's  day  of  the  old  count  gave  me  a  glimpse  into  a 
Spanish  interior.  For  two  or  three  days  previous  preparations 
were  made  for  the  fete.  Viands  of  all  kinds  were  brought  up 


LA    NINA  289 

from  town,  greeting  the  olfactory  nerves  of  the  old  invalid 
guards,  as  they  were  borne  past  them  through  the  Gate  of  Jus 
tice.  Servants  hurried  officiously  about  the  courts  ;  the  ancient 
kitchen  of  the  palace  was  again  alive  with  the  tread  of  cooks 
and  scullions,  and  blazed  with  unwonted  fires. 

When  the  day  arrived  I  beheld  the  old  count  in  patriarchal 
state,  his  family  and  household  around  him,  with  functionaries 
who  mismanaged  his  estates  at  a  distance  and  consumed  the  pro 
ceeds  ;  while  numerous  old  worn-out  servants  and  pensioners 
were  loitering  about  the  courts  and  keeping  within  smell  of  the 
kitchen. 

It  was  a  joyous  day  in  the  Alhambra.  The  guests  dispersed 
themselves  about  the  palace  before  the  hour  of  dinner,  enjoying 
the  luxuries  of  its  courts  and  fountains,  and  embosomed  gardens, 
and  music  and  laughter  resounded  through  its  late  silent  halls. 

The  feast,  for  a  set  dinner  in  Spain  is  literally  a  feast,  was 
served  in  the  beautiful  Morisco  Hall  of  "  Las  dos  Hermanas." 
The  table  was  loaded  with  all  the  luxuries  of  the  season  :  there 
was  an  almost  interminable  succession  of  dishes ;  showing  how 
truly  the  feast  at  the  rich  Cainachos'  wedding  in  "  Don  Quixote  " 
was  a  picture  of  a  Spanish  banquet.  A  joyous  conviviality  pre 
vailed  round  the  board ;  for  though  Spaniards  are  generally  ab 
stemious,  they  are  complete  revellers  on  occasions  like  the 
present,  and  none  more  so  than  the  Andalusians.  For  my  part, 
there  was  something  peculiarly  exciting  in  thus  sitting  at  a  feast 
in  the  royal  halls  of  the  Alhambra,  given  by  one  who  might  claim 
remote  affinity  with  its  Moorish  kings,  and  who  was  a  lineal  rep 
resentative  of  Gonsalvo  of  Cordova,  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
of  the  Christian  conquerors. 

The  banquet  ended,  the  company  adjourned  to  the  Hall  of 
Ambassadors.  Here  every  one  endeavored  to  contribute  to  the 
general  amusement,  singing,  improvising,  telling  wonderful  tales, 
or  dancing  popular  dances  to  that  all-pervading  talisman  of 
Spanish  pleasure,  the  guitar. 


290  THE    ALHAMBRA 

The  count's  gifted  little  daughter  was  as  usual  the  life  and 
delight  of  the  assemblage,  and  I  was  more  than  ever  struck 
with  her  aptness  and  wonderful  versatility.  She  took  a  part 
in  two  or  three  scenes  of  elegant  comedy  with  some  of  her  com 
panions,  and  performed  them  with  exquisite  point  and  finished 
grace ;  she  gave  imitations  of  the  popular  Italian  singers,  some 
serious,  some  comic,  with  a  rare  quality  of  voice,  and,  I  was  as 
sured,  with  singular  fidelity ;  she  imitated  the  dialects,  dances, 
ballads,  and  movements  and  manners  of  the  gypsies  and  the 
peasants  of  the  Vega  with  equal  felicity;  but  everything  was 
done  with  an  all-pervading  grace  and  a  ladylike  tact  perfectly 
fascinating. 

The  great  charm  of  everything  she  did  was  its  freedom  from 
pretension  or  ambitious  display,  its  happy  spontaneity.  Every 
thing  sprang  from  the  impulse  of  the  moment ;  or  was  in  prompt 
compliance  with  a  request.  She  seemed  unconscious  of  the  rarity 
and  extent  of  her  own  talent,  and  was  like  a  child  at  home  rev 
elling  in  the  buoyancy  of  its  own  gay  and  innocent  spirits.  In 
deed  I  was  told  she  had  never  exerted  her  talents  in  general 
society,  but  only,  as  at  present,  in  the  domestic  circle. 

Her  faculty  of  observation  and  her  perception  of  character 
must  have  been  remarkably  quick,  for  she  could  have  had  only 
casual  and  transient  glances  at  the  scenes,  manners,  and  customs 
depicted  with  such  truth  and  spirit.  "  Indeed  it  is  a  continual 
wonder  to  us,"  said  the  countess,  "where  the  child  (la  Nina) 
has  picked  up  these  things,  her  life  being  passed  almost  entirely 
at  home,  in  the  bosom  of  the  family." 

Evening  approached;  twilight  began  to  throw  its  shadows 
about  the  halls,  and  the  bats  to  steal  forth  from  their  lurking- 
place  and  flit  about.  A  notion  seized  the  little  damsel  and  some 
of  her  youthful  companions,  to  set  out,  under  the  guidance  of 
Dolores,  and  explore  the  less  frequented  parts  of  the  palace  in 
quest  of  mysteries  and  enchantments.  Thus  conducted,  they 
peeped  fearfully  into  the  gloomy  old  mosque,  but  quick  drew 


THE    VAULTED    PASSAGE  291 

back  on  being  told  that  a  Moorish  king  had  been  murdered 
there ;  they  ventured  into  the  mysterious  regions  of  the  bath, 
frightening  themselves  with  the  sounds  and  murmurs  of  hidden 
aqueducts,  and  flying  with  mock  panic  at  the  alarm  of  phantom 
Moors.  They  then  undertook  the  adventure  of  the  Iron  Gate, 
a  place  of  baleful  note  in  the  Alhambra.  It  is  a  postern  gate, 
opening  into  a  dark  ravine ;  a  narrow  covered  way  leads  down 
to  it,  which  used  to  be  the  terror  of  Dolores  and  her  playmates 
in  childhood,  as  it  was  said  a  hand  without  a  body  would  some 
times  be  stretched  out  from  the  wall  and  seize  hold  of  the 
passers-by. 

The  little  party  of  enchantment-hunters  ventured  to  the 
entrance  of  the  covered  way,  but  nothing  would  tempt  them  to 
enter,  in  this  hour  of  gathering  gloom ;  they  dreaded  the  grasp 
of  the  phantom  arm. 

At  length  they  came  running  back  into  the  Hall  of  Ambassa 
dors  in  a  mock  paroxysm  of  terror :  they  had  positively  seen 
two  spectral  figures  all  in  white.  They  had  not  stopped  to  ex 
amine  them ;  but  could  not  be  mistaken,  for  they  glared  dis 
tinctly  through  the  surrounding  gloom.  Dolores  soon  arrived 
and  explained  the  mystery.  The  spectres  proved  to  be  two 
statues  of  nymphs  in  white  marble,  placed  at  the  entrance  of  a 
vaulted  passage.  Upon  this  a  grave,  but,  as  I  thought,  some 
what  sly  old  gentleman  present,  who,  I  believe,  was  the  count's 
advocate  or  legal  adviser,  assured  them  that  these  statues  were 
connected  with  one  of  the  greatest  mysteries  of  the  Alhambra ; 
that  there  was  a  curious  history  concerning  them,  and,  more 
over,  that  they  stood  a  living  monument  in  marble  of  female 
secrecy  and  discretion.  All  present  entreated  him  to  tell  the 
history  of  the  statues.  He  took  a  little  time  to  recollect  the 
details,  and  then  gave  them  in  substance  the  following  legend. 


292  THE   ALHAMBRA 


LEGEND   OF   THE   TWO   DISCREET   STATUES 

THERE  lived  once  in  a  waste  apartment  of  the  Alhambra  a 
merry  little  fellow,  named  Lope  Sanchez,  who  worked  in  the 
gardens,  and  was  as  brisk  and  as  blithe  as  a  grasshopper,  sing 
ing  all  day  long.  He  was  the  life  and  soul  of  the  fortress ; 
when  his  work  was  over,  he  would  sit  on  one  of  the  stone 
benches  of  the  esplanade,  strum  his  guitar,  and  sing  long  ditties 
about  the  Cid,  and  Bernardo  del  Carpio,  and  Fernando  del 
Pulgar,  and  other  Spanish  heroes,  for  the  amusement  of  the  old 
soldiers  of  the  fortress ;  or  would  strike  up  a  merrier  tune,  and 
set  the  girls  dancing  boleros  and  fandangos. 

Like  most  little  men,  Lope  Sanchez  had  a  strapping  buxom 
dame  for  a  wife,  who  could  almost  have  put  him  in  her  pocket ; 
but  he  lacked  the  usual  poor  man's  lot  —  instead  of  ten  chil 
dren  he  had  but  one.  This  was  a  little  black-eyed  girl  about 
twelve  years  of  age,  named  Sanchica,  who  was  as  merry  as  him 
self,  and  the  delight  of  his  heart.  She  played  about  him  as  he 
worked  in  the  gardens,  danced  to  his  guitar  as  he  sat  in  the 
shade,  and  ran  as  wild  as  a  young  fawn  about  the  groves  and 
alleys  and  ruined  halls  of  the  Alhambra. 

It  was  now  the  eve  of  the  blessed  St.  John,  and  the  holiday- 
loving  gossips  of  the  Alhambra,  men,  women,  and  children, 
went  up  at  night  to  the  Mountain  of  the  Sun,  which  rises  above 
the  Generalife,  to  keep  their  midsummer  vigil  on  its  level 
summit.  It  was  a  bright  moonlight  night,  and  all  the  moun 
tains  were  gray  and  silvery,  and  the  city,  with  its  domes  and 
spires,  lay  in  shadows  below,  and  the  Yega  was  like  a  fairy 
land,  with  haunted  streams  gleaming  among  its  dusky  groves. 
On  the  highest  part  of  the  mountain  they  lit  up  a  bonfire, 
according  to  an  old  custom  of  the  country  handed  down  from 
the  Moors.  The  inhabitants  of  the  surrounding  country  were 
keeping  a  similar  vigil,  and  bonfires,  here  and  there  in  the 


THE   JET   HAND  293 

Vega,  and  along  the  folds  of  the  mountains,  blazed  up  palely  in 
the  moonlight. 

The  evening  was  gayly  passed  in  dancing  to  the  guitar  of 
Lope  Sanchez,  who  was  never  so  joyous  as  when  on  a  holiday 
revel  of  the  kind.  While  the  dance  was  going  on,  the  little 
Sanchica  with  some  of  her  playmates  sported  among  the  ruins 
of  an  old  Moorish  fort  that  crowns  the  mountain,  when,  in 
gathering  pebbles  in  the  fosse,  she  found  a  small  hand  curi 
ously  carved  of  jet,  the  fingers  closed,  and  the  thumb  firmly 
clasped  upon  them.  Overjoyed  with  her  good  fortune,  she  ran 
to  her  mother  with  her  prize.  It  immediately  became  a  sub 
ject  of  sage  speculation,  and  was  eyed  by  some  with  supersti 
tious  distrust.  "  Throw  it  away,"  said  one ;  "  it's  Moorish,  — 
depend  upon  it,  there's  mischief  and  witchcraft  in  it."  "  By 
no  means,"  said  another;  "you  may  sell  it  for  something  to 
the  jewellers  of  the  Zacatin."  In  the  midst  of  this  discussion 
an  old  tawny  soldier  drew  near,  who  had  served  in  Africa,  and 
was  as  swarthy  as  a  Moor.  He  examined  the  hand  with  a 
knowing  look.  "I  have  seen  things  of  this  kind,"  said  he, 
"among  the  Moors  of  Barbary.  It  is  a  great  virtue  to 
guard  against  the  evil  eye,  and  all  kinds  of  spells  and  enchant 
ments.  I  give  you  joy,  friend  Lope,  this  bodes  good  luck  to 
your  child." 

Upon  hearing  this,  the  wife  of  Lope  Sanchez  tied  the  little 
hand  of  jet  to  a  ribbon,  and  hung  it  round  the  neck  of  her 
daughter. 

The  sight  of  this  talisman  called  up  all  the  favorite  supersti 
tions  about  the  Moors.  The  dance  was  neglected,  and  they 
sat  in  groups  on  the  ground,  telling  old  legendary  tales  handed 
down  from  their  ancestors.  Some  of  their  stories  turned  upon 
the  wonders  of  the  very  mountain  upon  which  they  were 
seated,  which  is  a  famous  hobgoblin  region.  One  ancient 
crone  gave  a  long  account  of  the  subterranean  palace  in  the 
bowels  of  that  mountain  where  Boabdil  and  all  his  Moslem 


294  THE    ALHAMBRA 

court  are  said  to  remain  enchanted.  "Among  yonder  ruins," 
said  she,  pointing  to  some  crumbling  walls  and  mounds  of 
earth  on  a  distant  part  of  the  mountain,  "there  is  a  deep 
black  pit  that  goes  down,  down  into  the  very  heart  of  the 
mountain.  For  all  the  money  in  Granada  I  would  not  look 
down  into  it.  Once  upon  a  time  a  poor  man  of  the  Alhambra, 
who  tended  goats  upon  this  mountain,  scrambled  down  into  that 
pit  after  a  kid  that  had  fallen  in.  He  came  out  again  all  wild 
and  staring,  and  told  such  things  of  what  he  had  seen,  that 
every  one  thought  his  brain  was  turned.  He  raved  for  a  clay 
or  two  about  the  hobgoblin  Moors  that  had  pursued  him  in  the 
cavern,  and  could  hardly  be  persuaded  to  drive  his  goats  up 
again  to  the  mountain.  He  did  so  at  last,  but,  poor  man,  he 
never  came  down  again.  The  neighbors  found  his  goats  brows 
ing  about  the  Moorish  ruins,  and  his  hat  and  mantle  lying  near 
the  mouth  of  the  pit,  but  he  was  never  more  heard  of." 

The  little  Sanchica  listened  with  breathless  attention  to  this 
story.  She  was  of  a  curious  nature,  and  felt  immediately  a 
great  hankering  to  peep  into  this  dangerous  pit.  Stealing  away 
from  her  companions,  she  sought  the  distant  ruins,  and,  after 
groping  for  some  time  among  them,  came  to  a  small  hollow, 
or  basin,  near  the  brow  of  the  mountain,  where  it  swept  steeply 
down  into  the  valley  of  the  Darro.  In  the  centre  of  this  basin 
yawned  the  mouth  of  the  pit.  Sanchica  ventured  to  the  verge, 
and  peeped  in.  All  was  as  black  as  pitch,  and  gave  an  idea  of 
immeasurable  depth.  Her  blood  ran  cold ;  she  drew  back,  then 
peeped  in  again,  then  would  have  run  away,  then  took  another 
peep,  —  the  very  horror  of  the  thing  was  delightful  to  her.  At 
length  she  rolled  a  large  stone,  and  pushed  it  over  the  brink. 
For  some  time  it  fell  in  silence ;  then  struck  some  rocky  pro 
jection  with  a  violent  crash ;  then  rebounded  from  side  to  side, 
rumbling  and  tumbling,  with  a  noise  like  thunder;  then  made 
a  final  splash  into  water,  far,  far  below,  —  and  all  was  again 
silent. 


THE    BLACK   PIT  295 

The  silence,  however,  did  not  long  continue.  It  seemed  as  if 
something  had  been  awakened  within  this  dreary  abyss.  A 
murmuring  sound  gradually  rose  out  of  the  pit  like  the  hum 
and  buzz  of  a  beehive.  It  grew  louder  and  louder,  there  was  the 
confusion  of  voices  as  of  a  distant  multitude,  together  with  the 
faint  din  of  arms,  clash  of  cymbals  and  clangor  of  trumpets,  as  if 
some  army  were  marshalling  for  battle  in  the  very  bowels  of 
the  mountain. 

The  child  drew  off  with  silent  awe,  and  hastened  back  to  the 
place  where  she  had  left  her  parents  and  their  companions.  All 
were  gone.  The  bonfire  was  expiring,  and  its  last  wreath  of 
smoke  curling  up  in  the  moonshine.  The  distant  fires  that  had 
blazed  along  the  mountains  and  in  the  Vega  were  all  extinguished, 
and  everything  seemed  to  have  sunk  to  repose.  Sanchica  called 
her  parents  and  some  of  her  companions  by  name,  but  received 
no  reply.  She  ran  down  the  side  of  the  mountain,  and  by  the 
gardens  of  the  Generalife,  until  she  arrived  in  the  alley  of  trees 
leading  to  the  Alhambra,  when  she  seated  herself  on  a  bench 
of  a  woody  recess,  to  recover  breath.  The  bell  from  the  watch- 
tower  of  the  Alhambra  tolled  midnight.  There  was  a  deep 
tranquillity  as  if  all  nature  slept ;  excepting  the  low  tinkling 
sound  of  an  unseen  stream  that  ran  under  the  covert  of  the  bushes. 
The  breathing  sweetness  of  the  atmosphere  was  lulling  her  to 
sleep,  when  her  eye  was  caught  by  something  glittering  at  a 
distance,  and  to  her  surprise  she  beheld  a  long  cavalcade  of 
Moorish  warriors  pouring  down  the  mountain-side  and  along  the 
leafy  avenues.  Some  were  armed  with  lances  and  shields; 
others,  with  cimeters  and  battle-axes,  and  with  polished  cui 
rasses  that  flashed  in  the  moonbeams.  Their  horses  pranced 
proudly  and  champed  upon  their  bits,  but  their  tramp  caused 
no  more  sound  than  if  they  had  been  shod  with  felt,  and  the 
riders  were  all  as  pale  as  death.  Among  them  rode  a  beautiful 
lady,  with  a  crowned  head  and  long  golden  locks  entwined  with 
pearls.  The  housings  of  her  palfrey  were  of  crimson  velvet 


296  THE    ALHAMBRA 

embroidered  with  gold,  and  swept  the  earth ;  but  she  rode  all 
disconsolate,  with  eyes  ever  fixed  upon  the  ground. 

Then  succeeded  a  train  of  courtiers  magnificently  arrayed  in 
robes  and  turbans  of  divers  colors,  and  amidst  them,  on  a  cream- 
colored  charger,  rode  king  Boabdil  el  Chico,  in  a  royal  mantle 
covered  with  jewels,  and  a  crown  sparkling  with  diamonds. 
The  little  Sanchica  knew  him  by  his  yellow  beard,  and  his  re 
semblance  to  his  portrait,  which  she  had  often  seen  in  the 
picture  gallery  of  the  Generalife.  She  gazed  in  wonder  and 
admiration  at  this  royal  pageant,  as  it  passed  glistening  among 
the  trees  ;  but  though  she  knew  these  monarchs  and  courtiers 
and  warriors,  so  pale  and  silent,  were  out  of  the  common  course 
of  nature,  and  things  of  magic  and  enchantment,  yet  she  looked 
on  with  a  bold  heart,  such  courage  did  she  derive  from  the 
mystic  talisman  of  the  hand,  which  was  suspended  about  her 
neck. 

The  cavalcade  having  passed  by,  she  rose  and  followed.  It 
continued  on  to  the  great  Gate  of  Justice,  which  stood  wide  open  ; 
the  old  invalid  sentinels  on  duty  lay  on  the  stone  benches  of  the 
barbican,  buried  in  profound  and  apparently  charmed  sleep,  and 
the  phantom  pageant  swept  noiselessly  by  them  with  flaunting 
banner  and  triumphant  state.  Sanchica  would  have  followed  ; 
but  to  her  surprise  she  beheld  an  opening  in  the  earth,  within 
the  barbican,  leading  down  beneath  the  foundations  of  the  tower. 
She  entered  for  a  little  distance,  and  was  encouraged  to  pro 
ceed  by  finding  steps  rudely  hewn  in  the  rock,  and  a  vaulted 
passage  here  and  there  lit  up  by  a  silver  lamp,  which,  while  it 
gave  light,  diffused  likewise  a  grateful  fragrance.  Venturing  on, 
she  came  at  last  to  a  great  hall,  wrought  out  of  the  heart  of  the 
mountain,  magnificently  furnished  in  the  Moorish  style,  and 
lighted  up  by  silver  and  crystal  lamps.  Here,  on  an  ottoman, 
sat  an  old  man  in  Moorish  dress,  with  a  long  white  beard,  nod 
ding  and  dozing,  with  a  staff  in  his  hand,  which  seemed  ever  to 
be  slipping  from  his  grasp ;  while  at  a  little  distance  sat  a 


THE    SUBTERRANEAN    HALL  297 

beautiful  lady,  in  ancient  Spanish  dress,  with  a  coronet  all 
sparkling  with  diamonds,  and  her  hair  entwined  with  pearls, 
who  was  softly  playing  on  a  silver  lyre.  The  little  Sanchica 
now  recollected  a  story  she  had  heard  among  the  old  people  of 
the  Alhambra,  concerning  a  Gothic  princess  confined  in  the 
centre  of  the  mountain  by  an  old  Arabian  magician,  whom  she 
kept  bound  up  in  magic  sleep  by  the  power  of  music. 

The  lady  paused  with  surprise  at  seeing  a  mortal  in  that  en 
chanted  hall.  "  Is  it  the  eve  of  the  blessed  St.  John  ?  "  said 
she. 

"It  is,"  replied  Sanchica. 

"  Then  for  one  night  the  magic  charm  is  suspended.  Come 
hither,  child,  and  fear  not.  I  am  a  Christian  like  thyself,  though 
bound  here  by  enchantment.  Touch  my  fetters  with  the  talis 
man  that  hangs  about  thy  neck,  and  for  this  night  I  shall  be 
free." 

So  saying,  she  opened  her  robes  and  displayed  a  broad  golden 
band  round  her  waist,  and  a  golden  chain  that  fastened  her  to 
the  ground.  The  child  hesitated  not  to  apply  the  little  hand  of 
jet  to  the  golden  band,  and  immediately  the  chain  fell  to  the 
earth.  At  the  sound  the  old  man  woke  and  began  to  rub  his 
eyes ;  but  the  lady  ran  her  fingers  over  the  chords  of  the  lyre, 
and  again  he  fell  into  a  slumber  and  began  to  nod,  and  his  staff 
to  falter  in  his  hand.  "Now,"  said  the  lady,  "touch  his  staff 
with  the  talismanic  hand  of  jet."  The  child  did  so,  and  it  fell 
from  his  grasp,  and  he  sank  in  a  deep  sleep  on  the  ottoman. 
The  lady  gently  laid  the  silver  lyre  on  the  ottoman,  leaning  it 
against  the  head  of  the  sleeping  magician ;  then  touching  the 
chords  until  they  vibrated  in  his  ear,  —  "0  potent  spirit  of 
harmony,"  said  she,  "continue  thus  to  hold  his  senses  in  thral 
dom  till  the  return  of  day.  Now  follow  me,  my  child,"  con 
tinued  she,  "  and  thou  shalt  behold  the  Alhambra  as  it  was  in 
the  days  of  its  glory,  for  thou  hast  a  magic  talisman  that  reveals 
all  enchantments."  Sanchica  followed  the  lady  in  silence, 


298  THE    ALHAMBRA 

They  passed  up  through  the  entrance  of  the  cavern  into  the 
barbican  of  the  Gate  of  Justice,  and  thence  to  the  Plaza  de  los 
Algibes,  or  esplanade  within  the  fortress. 

This  was  all  filled  with  Moorish  soldiery,  horse  and  foot, 
marshalled  in  squadrons,  with  banners  displayed.  There  were 
royal  guards  also  at  the  portal,  and  rows  of  African  blacks  with 
drawn  cimeters.  No  one  spoke  a  word,  and  Sanchica  passed 
on  fearlessly  after  her  conductor.  Her  astonishment  increased 
on  entering  the  royal  palace,  in  which  she  had  been  reared. 
The  broad  moonshine  lit  up  all  the  halls  and  courts  and  gardens 
almost  as  brightly  as  if  it  were  day,  but  revealed  a  far  different 
scene  from  that  to  which  she  was  accustomed.  The  walls  of 
the  apartments  were  no  longer  stained  and  rent  by  time.  In 
stead  of  cobwebs,  they  were  now  hung  with  rich  silks  of 
Damascus,  and  the  gildings  and  arabesque  paintings  were  re 
stored  to  their  original  brilliancy  and  freshness.  The  halls,  no 
longer  naked  and  unfurnished,  were  set  out  with  divans  and 
ottomans  of  the  rarest  stuffs,  embroidered  with  pearls  and 
studded  with  precious  gems,  and  all  the  fountains  in  the  courts 
and  gardens  were  playing. 

The  kitchens  were  again  in  full  operation :  cooks  were  busy 
preparing  shadowy  dishes,  and  roasting  and  boiling  the  phan 
toms  of  pullets  and  partridges ;  servants  were  hurrying  to  and 
fro  with  silver  dishes  heaped  up  with  dainties,  and  arranging  a 
delicious  banquet.  The  Court  of  Lions  was  thronged  with 
guards,  and  courtiers,  and  alfaquis,  as  in  the  old  times  of  the 
Moors ;  and  at  the  upper  end,  in  the  saloon  of  judgment,  sat 
Boabdil  on  his  throne,  surrounded  by  his  court,  and  swaying  a 
shadowy  sceptre  for  the  night.  Notwithstanding  all  this  throng 
and  seeming  bustle,  not  a  voice  nor  a  footstep  was  to  be  heard  ; 
nothing  interrupted  the  midnight  silence  but  the  splashing  of 
the  fountains.  The  little  Sanchica  followed  her  conductress  in 
mute  amazement  about  the  palace,  until  they  came  to  a  portal 
opening  to  the  vaulted  passages  beneath  the  great  tower  of 


THE    MYRTLE    WREATH  299 

Comares.  On  each  side  of  the  portal  sat  the  figure  of  a  nymph, 
wrought  out  of  alabaster.  Their  heads  were  turned  aside,  and 
their  regards  fixed  upon  the  same  spot  within  the  vault.  The 
enchanted  lady  paused,  and  beckoned  the  child  to  her.  "  Here," 
said  she,  "  is  a  great  secret,  which  I  will  reveal  to  thee  in  re 
ward  for  thy  faith  and  courage.  These  discreet  statues  watch 
over  a  treasure  hidden  in  old  times  by  a  Moorish  king.  Tell 
thy  father  to  search  the  spot  on  which  their  eyes  are  fixed,  and 
he  will  find  what  will  make  him  richer  than  any  man  in  Granada. 
Thy  innocent  hands  alone,  however,  gifted  as  thou  art  also 
with  the  talisman,  can  remove  the  treasure.  Bid  thy  father 
use  it  discreetly,  and  devote  a  part  of  it  to  the  performance  of 
daily  masses  for  my  deliverance  from  this  unholy  enchantment." 

When  the  lady  had  spoken  these  words,  she  led  the  child  on 
ward  to  the  little  garden  of  Lindaraxa,  which  is  hard  by  the 
vault  of  the  statues.  The  moon  trembled  upon  the  waters  of 
the  solitary  fountain  in  the  centre  of  the  garden,  and  shed  a 
tender  light  upon  the  orange  and  citron  trees.  The  beautiful 
lady  plucked  a  branch  of  myrtle  and  wreathed  it  round  the  head 
of  the  child.  "Let  this  be  a  memento,"  said  she,  "  of  what  I 
have  revealed  to  thee,  and  a  testimonial  of  its  truth.  My  hour 
is  come  ;  I  must  return  to  the  enchanted  hall ;  follow  me  not, 
lest  evil  befall  thee  ;  —  farewell.  Remember  what  I  have  said, 
and  have  masses  performed  for  my  deliverance."  So  saying, 
the  lady  entered  a  dark  passage  leading  beneath  the  tower  of 
Comares,  and  was  no  longer  seen. 

The  faint  crowing  of  a  c&ck  was  now  heard  from  the  cottages 
below  the  Alhambra,  in  the  valley  of  the  Darro,  and  a  pale 
streak  of  light  began  to  appear  above  the  eastern  mountains. 
A  slight  wind  arose ;  there  was  a  sound  like  the  rustling  of  dry 
leaves  through  the  courts  and  corridors,  and  door  after  door  shut 
to  with  a  jarring  sound. 

Sanchica  returned  to  the  scenes  she  had  so  lately  beheld 
thronged  with  the  shadowy  multitude,  but  Boabdil  and  his  phan- 


300  THE    ALHAMBRA 

torn  court  were  gone.  The  moon  shone  into  empty  halls  and 
galleries  stripped  of  their  transient  splendor,  stained  and  dilapi 
dated  by  time,  and  hung  with  cobwebs.  The  bat  flitted  about 
in  the  uncertain  light,  and  the  frog  croaked  from  the  fish-pond. 

Sanchica  now  made  the  best  of  her  way  to  a  remote  staircase 
that  led  up  to  the  humble  apartment  occupied  by  her  family. 
The  door  as  usual  was  open,  for  Lope  Sanchez  was  too  poor  to 
need  bolt  or  bar ;  she  crept  quietly  to  her  pallet,  and,  putting 
the  myrtle  wreath  beneath  her  pillow,  soon  fell  asleep. 

In  the  morning  she  related  all  that  had  befallen  her  to  her 
father.  Lope  Sanchez,  however,  treated  the  whole  as  a  mere 
dream,  and  laughed  at  the  child  for  her  credulity.  He  went 
forth  to  his  customary  labors  in  the  garden,  but  had  not  been 
there  long  when  his  little  daughter  came  running  to  him  almost 
breathless.  "  Father !  father  !  "  cried  she,  "  behold  the  myrtle 
wreath  which  the  Moorish  lady  bound  round  my  head  !  " 

Lope  Sanchez  gazed  with  astonishment,  for  the  stalk  of  the 
myrtle  was  of  pure  gold,  and  every  leaf  was  a  sparkling  emerald  ! 
Being  not  much  accustomed  to  precious  stones,  he  was  ignorant 
of  the  real  value  of  the  wreath,  but  he  saw  enough  to  convince 
him  that  it  was  something  more  substantial  than  the  stuff  of 
which  dreams  are  generally  made,  and  that  at  any  rate  the  child 
had  dreamt  to  some  purpose.  His  first  care  was  to  enjoin  the 
most  absolute  secrecy  upon  his  daughter ;  in  this  respect,  how 
ever,  he  was  secure,  for  she  had  discretion  far  beyond  her  years 
or  sex.  He  then  repaired  to  the  vault,  where  stood  the  statues 
of  the  two  alabaster  nymphs.  He  'remarked  that  their  heads 
were  turned  from  the  portal,  and  that  the  regards  of  each  were 
fixed  upon  the  same  point  in  the  interior  of  the  building.  Lope 
Sanchez  could  not  but  admire  this  most  discreet  contrivance  for 
guarding  a  secret.  He  drew  a  line  from  the  eyes  of  the  statues 
to  the  point  of  regard,  made  a  private  mark  on  the  wall,  and 
then  retired. 

All  day,  however,  the  mind  of  Lope  Sanchez  was  distracted 


THE    WELL-GUARDED    SECRET  301 

with  a  thousand  cares.  He  could  not  help  hovering  within  dis 
tant  view  of  the  two  statues,  and  became  nervous  from  the 
dread  that  the  golden  secret  might  be  discovered.  Every  foot 
step  that  approached  the  place  made  him  tremble.  He  would 
have  given  anything  could  he  but  have  turned  the  heads  of  the 
statues,  forgetting  that  they  had  looked  precisely  in  the  same 
direction  for  some  hundreds  of  years,  without  any  person  being 
the  wiser. 

" A  plague  upon  them,"  he  would  say  to  himself,  "they'll be 
tray  all ;  did  ever  mortal  hear  of  such  a  mode  of  guarding  a 
secret  ? "  Then  on  hearing  any  one  advance,  he  would  steal  off, 
as  though  his  very  lurking  near  the  place  would  awaken  suspi 
cion.  Then  he  would  return  cautiously,  and  peep  from  a  dis 
tance  to  see  if  everything  was  secure,  but  the  sight  of  the  statues 
would  again  call  forth  his  indignation.  "  Ay,  there  they  stand," 
would  he  say,  "always  looking,  and  looking,  and  looking,  just 
where  they  should  not.  Confound  them  !  they  are  just  like  all 
their  sex ;  if  they  have  not  tongues  to  tattle  with,  they'll  be 
sure  to  do  it  with  their  eyes." 

At  length,  to  his  relief,  the  long  anxious  day  drew  to  a  close. 
The  sound  of  footsteps  was  no  longer  heard  in  the  echoing  halls 
of  the  Alhambra;  the  last  stranger  passed  the  threshold,  the 
great  portal  was  barred  and  bolted,  and  the  bat  and  the  frog 
and  the  hooting  owl  gradually  resumed  their  nightly  vocations 
in  the  deserted  palace. 

Lope  Sanchez  waited,  however,  until  the  night  was  far  ad 
vanced  before  he  ventured  with  his  little  daughter  to  the  hall 
of  the  two  nymphs.  He  found  them  looking  as  knowingly  and 
mysteriously  as  ever  at  the  secret  place  of  deposit.  "  By  your 
leaves,  gentle  ladies,"  thought  Lope  Sanchez,  as  he  passed  be 
tween  them,  "I  will  relieve  you  from  this  charge  that  must 
have  set  so  heavy  in  your  minds  for  the  last  two  or  three  cen 
turies."  He  accordingly  went  to  work  at  the  part  of  the  wall 
which  he  had  marked,  and  in  a  little  while  laid  open  a  concealed 


302  THE    ALHAMBRA 

recess,  in  which  stood  two  great  jars  of  porcelain.  He  attempted 
to  draw  them  forth,  but  they  were  immovable,  until  touched  by 
the  innocent  hand  of  his  little  daughter.  With  her  aid  he  dis 
lodged  them  from  their  niche,  and  found,  to  his  great  joy,  that 
they  were  filled  with  pieces  of  Moorish  gold,  mingled  with  jewels 
and  precious  stones.  Before  daylight  he  managed  to  convey 
them  to  his  chamber,  and  left  the  two  guardian  statues  with 
their  eyes  still  fixed  on  the  vacant  wall. 

Lope  Sanchez  had  thus  on  a  sudden  become  a  rich  man ; 
but  riches,  as  usual,  brought  a  world  of  cares  to  which  he 
had  hitherto  been  a  stranger.  How  was  he  to  convey  away 
his  wealth  with  safety  ?  How  was  he  even  to  enter  upon  the 
enjoyment  of  it  without  awakening  suspicion  1  Now,  too,  for 
the  first  time  in  his  life  the  dread  of  robbers  entered  into  his 
mind.  He  looked  with  terror  at  the  insecurity  of  his  habita 
tion,  .and  went  to  work  to  barricade  the  doors  and  windows ; 
yet  after  all  his  precautions  he  could  not  sleep  soundly.  His 
usual  gayety  was  at  an  end,  he  had  no  longer  a  joke  or  a  song 
for  his  neighbors,  and,  in  short,  became  the  most  miserable 
animal  in  the.  Alhambra.  His  old  comrades  remarked  this 
alteration,  pitied  him  heartily,  and  began  to  desert  him ;  think 
ing  he  must  be  falling  into  want,  and  in  danger  of  looking  to 
them  for  assistance.  Little  did  they  suspect  that  his  only 
calamity  was  riches. 

The  wife  of  Lope  Sanchez  shared  his  anxiety,  but  then  she 
had  ghostly  comfort.  We  ought  before  this  to  have  mentioned 
that  Lope,  being  rather  a  light  inconsiderate  little  man,  his 
wife  was  accustomed,  in  all  grave  matters,  to  "seek  the  counsel 
and  ministry  of  her  confessor  Fray  Simon,  a  sturdy,  broad- 
shouldered,  blue-bearded,  bullet-headed  friar  of  the  neighboring 
convent  of  San  Francisco,  who  was  in  fact  the  spiritual  com 
forter  of  half  the  good  wives  of  the  neighborhood.  He  was 
moreover  in  great  esteem  among  divers  sisterhoods  of  nuns ; 
who  requited  him  for  his  ghostly  services  by  frequent  presents 


A    SPIRITUAL    COUNSELLOR  303 

of  those  little  dainties  and  knickknacks  manufactured  in  con 
vents,  such  as  delicate  confections,  sweet  biscuits,  and  bottles 
of  spiced  cordials,  found  to  be  marvellous  restoratives  after  fasts 
and  vigils. 

Fray  Simon  thrived  in  the  exercise  of  his  functions.  His 
oily  skin  glistened  in  the  sunshine  as  he  toiled  up  the  hill  of 
the  Alhambra  on  a  sultry  day.  Yet  notwithstanding  his  sleek 
condition,  the  knotted  rope  round  his  waist  showed  the  aus 
terity  of  his  self-discipline ;  the  multitude  doffed  their  caps  to 
him  as  a  mirror  of  piety,  and  even  the  dogs  scented  the  odor 
of  sanctity  that  exhaled  from  his  garments,  and  howled  from 
their  kennels  as  he  passed. 

Such  was  Fray  Simon,  the  spiritual  counsellor  of  the  comely 
wife  of  Lope  Sanchez ;  and  as  the  father  confessor  is  the 
domestic  confidant  of  women  in  humble  life  in  Spain,  he  was 
soon  acquainted,  in  great  secrecy,  with  the  story  of  the  hidden 
treasure. 

The  friar  opened  his  eyes  and  mouth,  and  crossed  himself  a 
dozen  times  at  the  news.  After  a  moment's  pause,  u  Daughter 
of  my  soul ! "  said  he,  "know  that  thy  husband  has  committed 
a  double  sin  —  a  sin  against  both  state  and  church  !  The 
treasure  he  hath  thus  seized  upon  for  himself,  being  found  in 
the  royal  domains,  belongs  of  course  to  the  crown ;  but  being 
infidel  wealth,  rescued  as  it  were  from  the  very  fangs  of  Satan, 
should  be  devoted  to  the  church.  Still,  however,  the  matter 
may  be  accommodated.  Bring  hither  thy  myrtle  wreath." 

When  the  good  father  beheld  it,  his  eyes  twinkled  more  than 
ever  with  admiration  of  the  size  and  beauty  of  the  emeralds. 
"  This,"  said  he,  "  being  the  first-fruits  of  this  discovery,  should 
be  dedicated  to  pious  purposes.  I  will  hang  it  up  as  a  votive 
offering  before  the  image  of  San  Francisco  in  our  chapel,  and 
will  earnestly  pray  to  him,  this  very  night,  that  your  husband 
be  permitted  to  remain  in  quiet  possession  of  your  wealth." 

The   good  dame   was   delighted   to   make   her   peace   with 


304  THE    ALHAMBRA 

Heaven  at  so  cheap  a  rate,  and  the  friar,  putting  the  wreath 
under  his  mantle,  departed  with  saintly  steps  toward  his 
convent. 

When  Lope  Sanchez  came  home,  his  wife  told  him  what  had 
passed.  He  was  excessively  provoked,  for  he  lacked  his  wife's 
devotion,  and  had  for  some  time  groaned  in  secret  at  the 
domestic  visitations  of  the  friar.  "Woman,"  said  he,  "what 
hast  thou  done?  Thou  hast  put  everything  at  hazard  by  thy 
tattling." 

"  What !  "  cried  the  good  woman,  "  would  you  forbid  my 
disburdening  my  conscience  to  my  confessor  1 " 

"  No,  wife  !  confess  as  many  of  your  own  sins  as  you  please ; 
but  as  to  this  money-digging,  it  is  a  sin  of  my  own,  and  my 
conscience  is  very  easy  under  the  weight  of  it." 

There  was  no  use,  however,  in  complaining;  the  secret  was 
told,  and,  like  water  spilled  on  the  sand,  was  not  again  to  be 
gathered.  Their  only  chance  was,  that  the  friar  would  be 
discreet. 

The  next  day,  while  Lope  Sanchez  was  abroad,  there  was  an 
humble  knocking  at  the  door,  and  Fray  Simon  entered  with 
meek  and  demure  countenance. 

"Daughter,"  said  he,  "I  have  earnestly  prayed  to  San 
Francisco,  and  he  has  heard  my  prayer.  In  the  dead  of  the 
night  the  saint  appeared  to  me  in  a  dream,  but  with  a  frowning 
aspect.  'Why,'  said  he,  'dost  thou  pray  to  me  to  dispense 
with  this  treasure  of  the  Gentiles,  when  thou  seest  the  poverty 
of  my  chapel  1  Go  to  the  house  of  Lope  Sanchez,  crave  in  my 
name  a  portion  of  the  Moorish  gold,  to  furnish  two  candlesticks 
for  the  main  altar,  and  let  him  possess  the  residue  in  peace.' " 

When  the  good  woman  heard  of  this  vision,  she  crossed  her 
self  with  awe,  and  going  to  the  secret  place  where  Lope  had 
hid  the  treasure,  she  filled  a  great  leathern  purse  with  pieces 
of  Moorish  gold,  and  gave  it  to  the  friar.  The  pious  monk 
bestowed  upon  her,  in  return,  benedictions  enough,  if  paid 


PREPARATIONS    FOR    FLIGHT  305 

by  Heaven,  to  enrich  her  race  to  the  latest  posterity;  then 
slipping  the  purse  into  the  sleeve  of  his  habit,  he  folded  his 
hands  upon  his  breast,  and  departed  with  an  air  of  humble 
thankfulness. 

When  Lope  Sanchez  heard  of  this  second  donation  to  the 
church,  he  had  wellnigh  lost  his  senses.  "Unfortunate  man," 
cried  he,  "what  will  become  of  me?  I  shall  be  robbed  by 
piecemeal ;  I  shall  be  ruined  and  brought  to  beggary  ! " 

It  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  his  wife  could  pacify 
him,  by  reminding  him  of  the  countless  wealth  that  yet  remained, 
and  how  considerate  it  was  for  San  Francisco  to  rest  contented 
with  so  small  a  portion. 

Unluckily,  Fray  Simon  had  a  number  of  poor  relations  to  be 
provided  for,  not  to  mention  some  half-dozen  sturdy  bullet- 
headed  orphan  children  and  destitute  foundlings  that  he  had 
taken  under  his  care.  He  repeated  his  visits,  therefore,  from  day 
to  day,  with  solicitations  on  behalf  of  Saint  Dominick,  Saint 
Andrew,  Saint  James,  until  poor  Lope  was  driven  to  despair, 
and  found  that  unless  he  got  out  of  the  reach  of  this  holy  friar, 
he  should  have  to  take  peace-offerings  to  every  saint  in  the  cal 
endar.  He  determined,  therefore,  to  pack  up  his  remaining 
wealth,  beat  a  secret  retreat  in  the  night,  and  make  off  to  an 
other  part  of  the  kingdom. 

Full  of  his  project,  he  bought  a  stout  mule  for  the  purpose, 
and  tethered  it  in  a  gloomy  vault  underneath  the  tower  of  the 
seven  floors ;  the  very  place  whence  the  Belludo,  or  goblin  horse, 
is  said  to  issue  forth  at  midnight,  and  scour  the  streets  of  Gra 
nada,  pursued  by  a  pack  of  hell-hounds.  Lope  Sanchez  had 
little  faith  in  the  story,  but  availed  himself  of  the  dread  occa 
sioned  by  it,  knowing  that  no  one  would  be  likely  to  pry  into 
the  subterranean  stable  of  the  phantom  steed.  He  sent  off  his 
family  in  the  course  of  the  day,  with  orders  to  wait  for  him  at 
a  distant  village  of  the  Vega.  As  the  night  advanced,  he  con 
veyed  his  treasure  to  the  vault  under  the  tower,  and  having 


306  THE    ALHAMBRA 

loaded  his  mule,  he  led  it  forth,  and  cautiously  descended  the 
dusky  avenue. 

Honest  Lope  had  taken  his  measures  with  the  utmost  secrecy, 
imparting  them  to  no  one  but  the  faithful  wife  of  his  bosom. 
By  some  miraculous  revelation,  however,  they  became  known  to 
Fray  Simon.  The  zealous  friar  beheld  these  infidel  treasures 
on  the  point  of  slipping  forever  out  of  his  grasp,  and  determined 
to  have  one  more  dash  at  them  for  the  benefit  of  the  church 
and  San  Francisco.  Accordingly,  when  the  bells  had  rung  for 
animas,  and  all  the  Alhambra  was  quiet,  he  stole  out  of  his  con 
vent,  and  descending  through  the  Gate  of  Justice,  concealed 
himself  among  the  thickets  of  roses  and  laurels  that  border  the 
great  avenue.  Here  he  remained,  counting  the  quarters  of 
hours  as  they  were  sounded  on  the  bell  of  the  watch-tower,  arid 
listening  to  the  dreary  hootings  of  owls,  and  the  distant  bark 
ing  of  dogs  from  the  gipsy  caverns. 

At  length  he  heard  the  tramp  of  hoofs,  and,  through  the 
gloom  of  the  overshading  trees,  imperfectly  beheld  a  steed  de 
scending  the  avenue.  The  sturdy  friar  chuckled  at  the  idea  of 
the  knowing  turn  he  was  about  to  serve  honest  Lope. 

Tucking  up  the  skirts  of  his  habit,  and  wriggling  like  a  cat 
watching  a  mouse,  he  waited  until  his  prey  was  directly  before 
him,  when  darting  forth  from  his  leafy  covert,  and  putting  one 
hand  on  the  shoulder  and  the  other  on  the  crupper,  he  made  a 
vault  that  would  not  have  disgraced  the  most  experienced  mas 
ter  of  equitation,  and  alighted  well-forked  astride  the  steed. 
"Ah  ha ! "  said  the  sturdy  friar,  "  we  shall  now  see  who  best 
understands  the  game."  He  had  scarce  uttered  the  words  when 
the  mule  began  to  kick,  and  rear,  and  plunge,  and  then  set  off 
full  speed  down  the  hill.  The  friar  attempted  to  check  him, 
but  in  vain.  He  bounded  from  rock  to  rock,  and  bush  to  bush ; 
the  friar's  habit  was  torn  to  ribbons  and  fluttered  in  the  wind, 
his  shaven  poll  received  many  a  hard  knock  from  the  branches 
of  the  trees,  and  many  a  scratch  from  the  brambles.  To  add 


THE   BEDEVILLED   FRIAR  307 

to  his  terror  and  distress,  be  found  a  pack  of  seven  hounds  in  full 
cry  at  his  heels,  and  perceived,  too  late,  that  he  was  actually 
mounted  upon  the  terrible  Belludo  ! 

Away  then  they  went,  according  to  the  ancient  phrase,  "pull 
devil,  pull  friar,"  down  the  great  avenue,  across  the  Plaza  Nueva, 
along  the  Zacatin,  around  the  Vivarrambla  —  never  did  hunts 
man  and  hound  make  a  more  furious  run,  or  more  infernal  up 
roar.  In  vain  did  the  friar  invoke  every  saint  in  the  calendar, 
and  the  holy  Virgin  into  the  bargain ;  every  time  he  mentioned  a 
name  of  the  kind  it  was  like  a  fresh  application  of  the  spur,  and 
made  the  Belludo  bound  as  high  as  a  house.  Through  the  re 
mainder  of  the  night  was  the  unlucky  Fray  Simon  carried  hither 
and  thither,  and  whither  he  would  not,  until  every  bone  in  his 
body  ached,  and  he  suffered  a  loss  of  leather  too  grievous  to  be 
mentioned.  At  length  the  crowing  of  a  cock  gave  the  signal  of 
returning  day.  At  the  sound  the  goblin  steed  wheeled  about, 
and  galloped  back  for  his  tower.  Again  he  scoured  the  Yivar- 
rambla,  the  Zacatin,  the  Plaza  Nueva,  and  the  avenue  of  fountains, 
the  seven  dogs  yelling,  and  barking,  and  leaping  up,  and  snapping 
at  the  heels  of  the  terrified  friar.  The  first  streak  of  day  had 
just  appeared  as  they  reached  the  tower  ;  here  the  goblin  steed 
kicked  up  his  heels,  sent  the  friar  a  summerset  through  the  air, 
plunged  into  the  dark  vault  followed  by  the  infernal  pack,  and 
a  profound  silence  succeeded  to  the  late  deafening  clamor. 

Was  ever  so  diabolical  a  trick  played  off  upon  a  holy  friar  ? 
A  peasant  going  to  his  labors  at  early  dawn  found  the  unfortu 
nate  Fray  Simon  lying  under  a  fig-tree  at  the  foot  of  the  tower, 
but  so  bruised  and  bedevilled  that  he  could  neither  speak  nor 
move.  He  was  conveyed  with  all  care  and  tenderness  to  his  cell, 
and  the  story  went  that  he  had  been  waylaid  and  maltreated  by  ^ 
robbers.  A  day  or  two  elapsed  before  he  recovered  the  use  of 
his  limbs ;  he  consoled  himself,  in  the  meantime,  with  the 
thoughts  that  though  the  mule  with  the  treasure  had  escaped  him, 
he  had  previously  had  some  rare  pickings  at  the  infidel  spoils. 


308  THE    ALHAMBRA 

His  first  care  on  being  able  to  use  his  limbs,  was  to  search  be 
neath  his  pallet,  where  he  had  secreted  the  myrtle  wreath  and 
the  leathern  pouches  of  gold  extracted  from  the  piety  of  dame 
Sanchez.  What  was  his  dismay  at  finding  the  wreath,  in  effect, 
but  a  withered  branch  of  myrtle,  and  the  leathern  pouches  filled 
with  sand  and  gravel ! 

Fray  Simon,  with  all  his  chagrin,  had  the  discretion  to  hold  his 
tongue,  for  to  betray  the  secret  might  draw  on  him  the  ridicule 
of  the  public,  and  the  punishment  of  his  superior.  It  was  not 
until  many  years  afterwards,  on  his  death-bed,  that  he  revealed 
to  his  confessor  his  nocturnal  ride  on  the  Belludo. 

Nothing  was  heard  of  Lope  Sanchez  for  a  long  time  after  his 
disappearance  from  the  Alhambra.  His  memory  was  always 
cherished  as  that  of  a  merry  companion,  though  it  was  feared, 
from  the  care  and  melancholy  observed  in  his  conduct  shortly 
before  his  mysterious  departure,  that  poverty  and  distress  had 
driven  him  to  some  extremity.  Some  years  afterwards  one  of 
his  old  companions,  an  invalid  soldier,  being  at  Malaga,  was 
knocked  down  and  nearly  run  over  by  a  coach  and  six.  The 
carriage  stopped ;  an  old  gentleman,  magnificently  dressed,  with 
a  bag-wig  and  sword,  stepped  out  to  assist  the  poor  invalid. 
What  was  the  astonishment  of  the  latter  to  behold  in  this  grand 
cavalier  his  old  friend  Lope  Sanchez,  who  was  actually  celebrat 
ing  the  marriage  of  his  daughter  Sanchica  with  one  of  the  first 
grandees  in  the  land. 

The  carriage  contained  the  bridal  party.  There  was  daine 
Sanchez,  now  grown  as  round  as  a  barrel,  and  dressed  out  with 
feathers  and  jewels,  and  necklaces  of  pearls,  and  necklaces  of 
diamonds,  and  rings  on  every  finger,  altogether  a  finery  of 
apparel  that  had  not  been  seen  since  the  days  of  Queen  Sheba. 
The  little  Sanchica  had  now  grown  to  be  a  woman,  and  for 
grace  and  beauty  might  have  been  mistaken  for  a  duchess,  if  not 
a  princess  outright.  The  bridegroom  sat  beside  her  —  rather  a 
withered  spindle-shanked  little  man,  but  this  only  proved  him  to 


DON   LOPE    AND    HIS    FAMILY  309 

be  of  the  true-blue  blood ;  a  legitimate  Spanish  grandee  being 
rarely  above  three  cubits  in  stature.  The  match  had  been  of 
the  mother's  making. 

Riches  had  not  spoiled  the  heart  of  honest  Lope.  He  kept 
his  old  comrade  with  him  for  several  days;  feasted  him  like 
a  king,  took  him  to  plays  and  bull -fights,  and  at  length  sent 
him  away  rejoicing,  with  a  big  bag  of  money  for  himself,  and 
another  to  be  distributed  among  his  ancient  messmates  of  the 
Alhambra. 

Lope  always  gave  out  that  a  rich  brother  had  died  in  America 
and  left  him  heir  to  a  copper  mine ;  but  the  shrewd  gossips  of 
the  Alhambra  insist  that  his  wealth  was  all  derived  from  his 
having  discovered  the  secret  guarded  by  the  two  marble  nymphs 
of  the  Alhambra.  It  is  remarked  that  these  very  discreet 
statues  continue,  even  unto  the  present  day,  with  their  eyes 
fixed  most  significantly  on  the  same  part  of  the  wall ;  which 
leads  many  to  suppose  there  is  still  some  hidden  treasure  re 
maining  there  well  worthy  the  attention  of  the  enterprising 
traveller.  Though  others,  and  particularly  all  female  visitors, 
regard  them  with  great  complacency  as  lasting  monuments  of 
the  fact  that  women  can  keep  a  secret. 


THE  CRUSADE  OF  THE  GRAND  MASTER  OF 
ALCANTARA 

IN  the  course  of  a  morning's  research  among  the  old  chronicles 
in  the  Library  of  the  University,  I  came  upon  a  little  episode 
in  the  history  of  Granada,  so  strongly  characteristic  of  the 
bigot  zeal  which  sometimes  inflamed  the  Christian  enterprises 
against  this  splendid  but  devoted  city,  that  I  was  tempted  to 
draw  it  forth  from  the  parchment-bound  volume  in  which  it 
lay  entombed,  and  submit  it  to  the  reader. 

In  the  year  of  redemption,  1394,  there  was  a  valiant  and 


310  THE    ALHAMBRA 

devout  grand  master  of  Alcantara,  named  Martin  Yanez  de 
Barbudo,  who  was  inflamed  with  a  vehement  desire  to  serve 
God  and  fight  the  Moors.  Unfortunately  for  this  brave  and 
pious  cavalier,  a  profound  peace  existed  between  the  Christian 
and  Moslem  powers.  Henry  III.  had  just  ascended  the  throne 
of  Castile,  and  Yusef  ben  Mohammed  had  succeeded  to  the 
throne  of  Granada,  and  both  were  disposed  to  continue  the 
peace  which  had  prevailed  between  their  fathers.  The  grand 
master  looked  with  repining  at  Moorish  banners  and  weapons, 
which  decorated  his  castle  hall,  trophies  of  the  exploits  of  his 
predecessors;  and  repined  at  his  fate  to  exist  in  a  period  of 
such  inglorious  tranquillity. 

At  length  his  impatience  broke  through  all  bounds,  and 
seeing  that  he  could  find  no  public  war  in  which  to  engage, 
he  resolved  to  carve  out  a  little  war  for  himself.  Such  at  least 
is  the  account  given  by  some  ancient  chronicles,  though  others 
give  the  following  as  the  motive  for  this  sudden  resolution  to 
go  campaigning. 

As  the  grand  master  was  one  day  seated  at  table  with  several 
of  his  cavaliers,  a  man  suddenly  entered  the  hall,  —  tall,  meagre, 
and  bony,  with  haggard  countenance  and  fiery  eye.  All  recog 
nized  him  for  a  hermit,  who  had  been  a  soldier  in  his  youth, 
but  now  led  a  life  of  penitence  in  a  cave.  He  advanced  to  the 
table  and  struck  upon  it  with  a  fist  that  seemed  of  iron. 
"Cavaliers,"  said  he,  "why  sit  ye  here  idly,  with  your  weapons 
resting  against  the  wall,  while  the  enemies  of  the  faith  lord  it 
over  the  fairest  portion  of  the  land  1 " 

"  Holy  father,  what  wouldst  thou  have  us  do  ? "  asked  the 
grand  master,  "seeing  the  wars  are  over  and  our  swords  bound 
up  by  treaties  of  peace  1 " 

"Listen  to  my  words,"  replied  the  hermit.  "As  I  was 
seated  late  at  night  at  the  entrance  of  my  cave,  contemplating 
the  heavens,  I  fell  into  a  reverie,  and  a  wonderful  vision  was 
presented  to  me.  I  beheld  the  moon,  a  mere  crescent,  yet 


THE   AMBASSADORS  311 

luminous  as  the  brightest  silver,  and  it  hung  in  the  heaven, 
over  the  kingdom  of  Granada.  While  I  was  looking  at  it, 
behold  there  shot  forth  from  the  firmament  a  blazing  star 
which,  as  it  went,  drew  after  it  all  the  stars  of  heaven ;  and 
they  assailed  the  moon  and  drove  it  from  the  skies ;  and  the 
whole  firmament  was  filled  with  the  glory  of  that  blazing  star. 
While  mine  eyes  were  yet  dazzled  by  this  wondrous  sight,  some 
one  stood  by  me  with  snowy  wings  and  a  shining  countenance. 
'Oh  man  of  prayer,'  said  he,  'get  thee  to  the  grand  master  of 
Alcantara  and  tell  him  of  the  vision  thou  hast  beheld.  He  is 
the  blazing  star,  destined  to  drive  the  crescent,  the  Moslem 
emblem,  from  the  land.  Let  him  boldly  draw  the  sword  and 
continue  the  good  work  begun  by  Pelazo  of  old,  and  victory 
will  assuredly  attend  his  banner.' " 

The  grand  master  listened  to  the  hermit  as  to  a  messenger 
from  heaven,  and  followed  his  counsel  in  all  things.  By  his 
advice  he  dispatched  two  of  his  stoutest  warriors,  armed  cap-a-pie, 
on  an  embassy  to  the  Moorish  king.  They  entered  the  gates  of 
Granada  without  molestation,  as  the  nations  were  at  peace ;  and 
made  their  way  to  the  Alhambra,  where  they  were  promptly 
admitted  to  the  king,  who  received  them  in  the  Hall  of  Ambas 
sadors.  They  delivered  their  message  roundly  and  hardly. 
"  We  come,  0  King,  from  Don  Martin  Yanez  de  Barbudo,  grand 
master  of  Alcantara ;  who  affirms  the  faith  of  Jesus  Christ  to 
be  true  and  holy,  and  that  of  Mahomet  false  and  detestable, 
and  he  challenges  thee  to  maintain  the  contrary,  hand  to  hand, 
in  single  combat.  Shouldst  thou  refuse,  he  offers  to  combat 
with  one  hundred  cavaliers  against  two  hundred ;  or,  in  like 
proportion,  to  the  number  of  one  thousand,  always  allowing  thy 
faith  a  double  number  of  champions.  Remember,  0  King;  that 
thou  canst  not  refuse  this  challenge;  since  thy  prophet,  knowing 
the  impossibility  of  maintaining  his  doctrines  by  argument,  has 
commanded  his  followers  to  enforce  them  with  the  sword." 

The  beard  of  king  Yusef  trembled  with  indignation.     "  The 


312  THE    ALHAMBRA 

master  of  Alcantara,"  said  he,  "  is  a  madman  to  send  such  a 
message,  and  ye  are  saucy  knaves  to  bring  it." 

So  saying,  he  ordered  the  ambassadors  to  be  thrown  into  a 
dungeon,  by  way  of  giving  them  a  lesson  in  diplomacy ;  and 
they  were  roughly  treated  on  their  way  thither  by  the  populace, 
who  were  exasperated  at  this  insult  to  their  sovereign  and  their 
faith. 

The  grand  master  of  Alcantara  could  scarcely  credit  the  tidings 
of  the  maltreatment  of  his  messengers ;  but  the  hermit  rejoiced 
when  they  were  repeated  to  him.  "  God,"  said  he,  "  has  blinded 
this  infidel  king  for  his  downfall.  Since  he  has  sent  no  reply 
to  thy  defiance,  consider  it  accepted.  Marshal  thy  forces,  there 
fore  ;  march  forward  to  Granada ;  pause  not  until  thou  seest 
the  gate  of  Elvira.  A  miracle  will  be  wrought  in  thy  favor. 
There  will  be  a  great  battle ;  the  enemy  will  be  overthrown ; 
but  not  one  of  thy  soldiers  will  be  slain." 

The  grand  master  called  upon  every  warrior  zealous  in  the 
Christian  cause  to  aid  him  in  this  crusade.  In  a  little  while 
three  hundred  horsemen  and  a  thousand  foot-soldiers  rallied 
under  his  standard.  The  horsemen  were  veterans,  seasoned  to 
battle  and  well  armed ;  but  the  infantry  were  raw  and  undisci 
plined.  The  victory,  however,  was  to  be  miraculous ;  the  grand 
master  was  a  man  of  surpassing  faith,  and  knew  that  the  weaker 
the  means  the  greater  the  miracle.  He  sallied  forth  confidently, 
therefore,  with  his  little  army,  and  the  hermit  strode  ahead, 
bearing  a  cross  on  the  end  of  a  long  pole,  and  beneath  it  the 
pennon  of  the  order  of  Alcantara. 

As  they  approached  the  city  of  Cordova  they  were  overtaken 
by  messengers,  spurring  in  all  haste,  bearing  missives  from  the 
Castilian  monarch,  forbidding  the  enterprise.  The  grand  master 
was  a  man  of  a  single  mind  and  a  single  will ;  in  other  words, 
a  man  of  one  idea.  "  Were  I  on  any  other  errand,"  said  he,  "  I 
should  obey  these  letters  as  coming  from  my  lord  the  king ;  but 
I  am  sent  by  a  higher  power  than  the  king.  In  compliance 


EXPOSTULATIONS  313 

with  its  commands  I  have  advanced  the  cross  thus  far  against 
the  infidels ;  and  it  would  be  treason  to  the  standard  of  Christ 
to  turn  back  without  achieving  my  errand." 

So  the  trumpets  were  sounded  ;  the  cross  was  again  reared 
aloft,  and  the  band  of  zealots  resumed  their  march.  As  they 
passed  through  the  streets  of  Cordova  the  people  were  amazed 
at  beholding  a  hermit  bearing  a  cross  at  the  head  of  a  warlike 
multitude  ;  but  when  they  learnt  that  a  miraculous  victory  was 
to  be  effected  and  Granada  destroyed,  laborers  and  artisans  threw 
by  the  implements  of  their  handicrafts  and  joined  in  the  crusade ; 
while  a  merceimrj^  rabble  followed  on  with  a  view  of  plunder. 

A  number  of  cavaliers  of  rank  who  lacked  faith  in  the  prom 
ised  miracle,  and  dreaded  the  consequences  of  this  unprovoked 
irruption  into  the  country  of  the  Moor,  assembled  at  the  bridge 
of  the  Guadalquivir  and  endeavored  to  dissuade  the  grand  master 
from  crossing.  He  was  deaf  to  prayers,  expostulations,  or  men 
aces  ;  his  followers  were  enraged  at  this  opposition  to  the  cause 
of  the  faith ;  they  put  an  end  to  the  parley  by  their  clamors ; 
the  cross  was  again  reared  and  borne  triumphantly  across  the 
bridge. 

The  multitude  increased  as  it  proceeded;  by  the  time  the 
grand  master  had  reached  Alcala  la  Real,  which  stands  on  a 
mountain  overlooking  the  Vega  of  Granada,  upwards  of  five 
thousand  men  on  foot  had  joined  his  standard. 

At  Alcala  came  forth  Alonzo  Fernandez  de  Cordova,  Lord  of 
Aguilar,  his  brother  Diego  Fernandez,  Marshal  of  Castile,  and 
other  cavaliers  of  valor  and  experience.  Placing  themselves  in 
the  way  of  the  grand  master,  "  What  madness  is  this,  Don 
Martin1?"  said  they;  " the  Moorish  king  has  two  hundred  thou 
sand  foot-soldiers  and  five  thousand  horse  within  his  walls ;  what 
can  you  and  your  handful  of  cavaliers  and  your  noisy  rabble  do 
against  such  force  1  Bethink  you  of  the  disasters  which  have 
befallen  other  Christian  commanders,  who  have  crossed  these 
rocky  borders  with  ten  times  your  force.  Think,  too,  of  the 


314  THE    ALHAMBRA 

mischief  that  will  be  brought  upon  this  kingdom  by  an  outrage 
of  the  kind  committed  by  a  man  of  your  rank  and  importance,  a 
grand  master  of  Alcantara.  Pause,  we  entreat  you,  while  the 
truce  is  yet  unbroken.  Await  within  the  borders  the  reply  of  the 
king  of  Granada  to. your  challenge.  If  he  agree  to  meet  you 
singly,  or  with  champions  two  or  three,  it  will  be  your  individual 
contest,  and  fight  it  out  in  God's  name;  if  he  refuse,  you  may 
return  home  with  great  honor  and  the  disgrace  will  fall  upon 
the  Moors." 

Several  cavaliers,  who  had  hitherto  followed  the  grand  mas 
ter  with  devoted  zeal,  were  moved  by  these  expostulations, 
and  suggested  to  him  the  policy  of  listening  to  this  advice. 

"  Cavaliers,"  said  he,  addressing  himself  to  Alonzo  Fernandez 
de  Cordova  and  his  companions,  "  I  thank  you  for  the  counsel 
you  have  so  kindly  bestowed  upon  me,  and  if  I  were  merely  in 
pursuit  of  individual  glory  I  might  be  swayed  by  it.  But  I 
am  engaged  to  achieve  a  great  triumph  of  the  faith,  which  God 
is  to  effect  by  miracle  through  my  means.  As  to  you,  cavaliers, " 
turning  to  those  of  his  followers  who  had  wavered,  "  if  your 
hearts  fail  you,  or  you  repent  of  having  put  your  hands  to  this 
good  work,  return,  in  God's  name,  and  my  blessing  go  with  you. 
For  myself,  though  I  have  none  to  stand  by  me  but  this  holy  her 
mit,  yet  will  I  assuredly  proceed ;  until  I  have  planted  this  sacred 
standard  on  the  walls  of  Granada,  or  perished  in  the  attempt." 

"Don  Martin  Yanez  de  Barbudo,"  replied  the  cavaliers,  "we 
are  not  men  to  turn  our  backs  upon  our  commander,  however 
rash  his  enterprise.  We  spoke  but  in  caution.  Lead  on,  there 
fore,  and  if  it  be  to  the  death,  be  assured  to  the  death  we  will 
follow  thee." 

By  this  time  the  common  soldiers  became  impatient.  "  For 
ward  !  forward  ! "  shouted  they.  "  Forward  in  the  cause  of 
faith."  So  the  grand  master  gave  signal,  the  hermit  again 
reared  the  cross  aloft,  and  they  poured  down  a  defile  of  the 
mountain,  with  solemn  chants  of  triumph. 


THE    BATTLE  315 

That  night  they  encamped  at  the  river  of  Azores,  and  the 
next  morning,  which  was  Sunday,  crossed  the  borders.  Their 
first  pause  was  at  an  atalaya  or  solitary  tower,  built  upon  a 
rock ;  a  frontier  post  to  keep  a  watch  upon  the  border,  and 
give  notice  of  invasion.  It  was  thence  called  el  Torre  del  Exea 
(the  tower  of  the  spy).  The  grand  master  halted  before  it  and 
summoned  its  petty  garrison  to  surrender.  He  was  answered 
by  a  shower  of  stones  and  arrows,  which  wounded  him  in  the 
hand  and  killed  three  of  his  men. 

"  How  is  this,  father  ? "  said  he  to  the  hermit ;  "  you  assured 
me  that  not  one  of  my  followers  would  be  slain  !  " 

"  True,  my  son,  but  I  meant  in  the  great  battle  of  the  infidel 
king ;  what  need  is  there  of  miracle  to  aid  in  the  capture  of  a 
petty  tower  1 " 

The  grand  master  was  satisfied.  He  ordered  wood  to  be 
piled  against  the  door  of  the  tower  to  burn  it  down.  In  the 
meantime  provisions  were  unloaded  from  the  sumpter-mules, 
and  the  crusaders,  withdrawing  beyond  bowshot,  sat  down  on 
the  grass  to  a  repast  to  strengthen  them  for  the  arduous  day's 
work  before  them.  While  thus  engaged,  they  were  startled  by 
the  sudden  appearance  of  a  great  Moorish  host.  The  atalayas 
had  given  the  alarm  by  fire  and  smoke  from  the  mountain-tops 
of  "an  enemy  across  the  border,"  and  the  king  of  Granada  had 
sallied  forth  with  a  great  force  to  the  encounter. 

The  crusaders,  nearly  taken  by  surprise,  flew  to  arms  and 
prepared  for  battle.  The  grand  master  ordered  his  three  hun 
dred  horsemen  to  dismount  and  fight  on  foot  in  support  of  the 
infantry.  The  Moors,  however,  charged  so  suddenly  that  they 
separated  the  cavaliers  from  the  foot-soldiers  and  prevented 
their  uniting.  The  grand  master  gave  the  old  war-cry,  "  San 
tiago  !  Santiago !  and  close  Spain ! "  He  and  his  knights 
breasted  the  fury  of  the  battle,  but  were  surrounded  by  a 
countless  host  and  assailed  with  arrows,  stones,  darts,  and 
arquebuses.  Still  they  fought  fearlessly,  and  made  prodigious 


316  THE    ALHAMBRA 

slaughter.  The  hermit  mingled  in  the  hottest  of  the  fight.  In 
one  hand  he  bore  the  cross,  in  the  other  he  brandished  a  sword, 
with  which  he  dealt  about  him  like  a  maniac,  slaying  several  of 
the  enemy,  until  he  sank  to  the  ground  covered  with  wounds. 
The  grand  master  saw  him  fall,  and  saw  too  late  the  fallacy  of 
his  prophecies.  Despair,  however,  only  made  him  fight  the 
more  fiercely,  until  he  also  fell  overpowered  by  numbers.  His 
devoted  cavaliers  emulated  his  holy  zeal.  Not  one  turned  his 
back  nor  asked  for  mercy ;  all  fought  until  they  fell.  As  to 
the  foot-soldiers,  many  were  killed,  many  taken  prisoners ;  the 
residue  escaped  to  Alcala  la  Real.  When  the  Moors  came  to 
strip  the  slain,  the  wounds  of  the  cavaliers  were  all  found  to  be 
in  front. 

Such  was  the  catastrophe  of  this  fanatic  enterprise.  The 
Moors  vaunted  it  as  a  decisive  proof  of  the  superior  sanctity  of 
their  faith,  and  extolled  their  king  to  the  skies  when  he  re 
turned  in  triumph  to  Granada. 

As  it  was  satisfactorily  shown  that  this  crusade  was  the 
enterprise  of  an  individual,  and  contrary  to  the  express  orders 
of  the  king  of  Castile,  the  peace  of  the  two  kingdoms  was  not 
interrupted.  Nay,  the  Moors  evinced  a  feeling  of  respect  for 
the  valor  of  the  unfortunate  grand  master,  and  readily  gave  up 
his  body  to  Don  Alonzo  Fernandez  de  Cordova,  who  came  from 
Alcala  to  seek  it.  The  Christians  of  the  frontier  united  in  pay 
ing  the  last  sad  honors  to  his  memory.  His  body  was  placed 
upon  a  bier,  covered  with  the  pennon  of  the  order  of  Alcantara  • 
and  the  broken  cross,  the  emblem  of  his  confident  hopes  and 
fatal  disappointment,  was  borne  before  it.  In  this  way  his 
remains  were  carried  back  in  funeral  procession,  through  the 
mountain  tract  which  he  had  traversed  so  resolutely.  Where- 
ever  it  passed,  through  a  town  or  village,  the  populace  followed 
with  tears  and  lamentations,  bewailing  him  as  a  valiant  knight 
and  a  martyr  to  the  faith.  His  body  was  interred  in  the 
chapel  of  the  convent  of  Santa  Maria  de  Almocovara,  and  on 


THE    EPITAPH  317 

his  sepulchre  may  still  be  seen  engraven  in  quaint  and  antique 
Spanish  the  following  testimonial  to  his  bravery :  — 

HERE  LIES   ONE  WHOSE  HEART  NEVER  KNEW  FEAR. 
(Aqui  yaz  aquel  que  par  neua  cosa  nunca  eve  pavor  en  sen  corazon.)1 

1  Torres.  Hist.  Ord.  Alcantara.  Cron.  Enrique  III.  per  Pedro  Lopez 
de  Ayala. 

SPANISH   ROMANCE 

IN  the  latter  part  of  my  sojourn  in  the  Alhambra,  I  made 
frequent  descents  into  the  Jesuit's  Library  of  the  University ; 
and  relished  more  and  more  the  old  Spanish  chronicles,  which 
I  found  there  bound  in  parchment.  I  delight  in  those  quaint 
histories  which  treat  of  the  times  when  the  Moslems  maintained 
a  foothold  in  the  Peninsula.  With  all  their  bigotry  and  occa 
sional  intolerance,  they  are  full  of  noble  acts  and  generous  sen 
timents,  and  have  a  high,  spicy,  oriental  flavor,  not  to  be  found 
in  other  records  of  the  times,  which  were  merely  European.  In 
fact,  Spain,  even  at  the  present  day,  is  a  country  apart ;  severed 
in  history,  habits,  manners,  and  modes  of  thinking,  from  all  the 
rest  of  Europe.  It  is  a  romantic  country ;  but  its  romance  has 
none  of  the  sentimentality  of  modern  European  romance;  it  is 
chiefly  derived  from  the  brilliant  regions  of  the  East,  and  from 
the  high-minded  school  of  Saracenic  chivalry. 

The  Arab  invasion  and  conquest  brought  a  higher  civilization, 
and  a  nobler  style  of  thinking,  into  Gothic  Spain.  The  Arabs 
were  quick-witted,  sagacious,  proud-spirited,  and  poetical  people, 
and  were  imbued  with  oriental  science  and  literature.  Wher 
ever  they  esIaKHshed  a  seat  of  power,  it  became  a  rallying-place 
for  the  learned  and  ingenious ;  and  they  softened  and  refined 
the  people  whom  they  conquered.  By  degrees,  occupancy 
seemed  to  give  them  an  hereditary  right  to  their  foothold  in 


318  THE    ALHAMBRA 

the  land ;  they  ceased  to  be  looked  upon  as  invaders,  and  were 
regarded  as  rival  neighbors.  The  Peninsula,  broken  up  into  a 
variety  of  states,  both  Christian  and  Moslem,  became,  for  cen 
turies,  a  great  campaigning-ground,  where  the  art  of  war 
seemed  to  be  the  principal  business  of  man,  and  was  carried  to 
the  highest  pitch  of  romantic  chivalry.  The  original  ground  of 
hostility,  a  difference  of  faith,  gradually  lost  its  rancor.  Neigh 
boring  states,  of  opposite  creeds,  were  occasionally  linked  to 
gether  in  alliances,  jaffensive  and  defensive ;  so  that  the  cross 
and  crescent  were  to  be  seen  side  by  side,  fighting  against  some 
common  enemy.  In  times  of  peace,  too,  the  noble  youth  of 
either  faith  resorted  to  the  same  cities,  Christian  or  Moslem,  to 
school  themselves  in  military  science.  Even  in  the  temporary 
truces  of  sanguinary  wars,  the  warriors  who  had  recently  striven 
together  in  the  deadly  conflicts  of  the  field,  laid  aside  their 
animosity,  met  at  tournaments,  jousts,  and  other  military  fes 
tivities,  and  exchanged  the  courtesies  of  gentle  and  generous 
spirits.  Thus  the  opposite  races  became  frequently  mingled 
together  in  peaceful  intercourse,  or  if  any  rivalry  took  plane,  it 
was  in  those  high  courtesies  and  nobler  acts,  which  bespeak  the 
accomplished  cavalier.  Warriors,  of  opposite  creeds,  became 
ambitious  of  transcending  each  other  in  magnanimity  as  well  as 
valor.  Indeed,  the  chivalric  virtues  were  refined  upon  to  a 
degree  sometimes  fastidious  and  constrained,  but  at  other  times 
inexpressibly  noble  and  affecting.  The  annals  of  the  times 
teem  with  illustrious  instances  of  high-wrought  courtesy,  roman 
tic  generosity,  lofty  disinterestedness,  and  punctilious  honor, 
that  warm  the  very  soul  to  read  them.  These  have  furnished 
themes  for  national  plays  and  poems,  or  have  been  celebrated 
in  those  all-pervading  ballads,  which  are  as  the  life-breath  of 
the  people,  and  thus  have  continued  to  exercise  an  influence  on 
the  national  character,  which  centuries  of  vicissitude  and  decline 
have  not  been  able  to  destroy;  so  that,  with  all  their  faults, 
and  they  are  many,  the  Spaniards,  even  at  the  present  day,  are, 


SPANISH   ROMANCE  319 

on  many  points,  the  most  high-minded  and  proud-spirited 
people  of  Europe.  It  is  true,  the  romance  of  feeling  derived 
from  the  sources  I  have  mentioned,  has,  like  all  other  romance, 
its  affectations  and  extremes.  It  renders  the  Spaniard  at  times 
pompous  and  grandiloquent;  prone  to  carry  the  "pundonor," 
or  point  of  honorp5eyond  the  bounds  of  sober  sense  and  sound 
morality;  disposed,  in  the  midst  of  poverty,  to  affect  the 
"grande  caballero,"  and  to  look  down  with  sovereign  disdain 
upon  "  arts  mechanical,"  and  all  the  gainful  pursuits  of  ,plebeia.n 
life ;  but  this  very  inflation  of  spirit,  while  it  fills  his  brain 
with  vapors,  lifts  him  above  a  thousand  meannesses ;  and 
though  it  often  keeps  him  in  indigence,  ever  protects  him  from 
vulgarity. 

In  the  present  day,  when  popular  literature  is  running  into 
the  low  levels  of  life,  and  luxuriating  on  the  vices  and  follies  of 
mankind ;  and  when  the  universal  pursuit  of  gain  is  trampling 
down  the  early  growth  of  poetic  feeling,  and  wearing  out  the 
verdure  of  the  soul,  I  question  whether  it  would  not  be  of  service 
for  the  reader  occasionally  to  turn  to  these  records  of  prouder 
times  and  loftier  modes  of  thinking ;  and  to  steep  himself  to  the 
very  lips  in  old  Spanish  romance. 

With  these  preliminary  suggestions,  the  fruit  of  a  morning's 
reading  and  rumination  in  the  old  Jesuit's  Library  of  the  Uni 
versity,  I  will  give  him  a  legend  in  point,  drawn  forth  from  one 
of  the  venerable  chronicles  alluded  to. 


LEGEND   OF   DON   MUNIO  SANCHO   DE  HINOJOSA 

IN  the  cloisters  of  the  ancient  Benedictine  convent  of  San 
Domingo,  at  Silos,  in  Castile,  are  the  mouldering  yet  magnifi 
cent  monuments  of  the  once  powerful  and  chivalrous  family  of 
Hinojosa.  Among  these  reclines  the  marble  figure  of  a  knight, 
ill  complete  armor,  with  the  hands  pressed  together,  as  if  in 


320  THE    ALHAMBRA 

prayer.  On  one  side  of  his  tomb  is  sculptured  in  relief  a  band 
of  Christian  cavaliers,  capturing  a  cavalcade  of  male  and  female 
Moors;  on  the  other  side,  the  same  cavaliers  are  represented 
kneeling  before  an  altar.  The  tomb,  like  most  of  the  neighbor 
ing  monuments,  is  almost  in  ruins,  and  the  sculpture  is  nearly 
unintelligible,  excepting  to  the  keen  eye  of  the  antiquary.  The 
story  connected  with  the  sepulchre,  however,  is  still  preserved 
in  the  old  Spanish  chronicles,  and  is  to  the  following  purport. 

IN  old  times  several  hundred  years  ago,  there  was  a  noble 
Castilian  cavalier,  named  Don  Munio  Sancho  de  Hinojosa,  lord 
of  a  border  castle,  which  had  stood  the  brunt  of  many  a  Moorish 
foray.  He  had  seventy  horsemen  as  his  household  troops,  all  of 
the  ancient  Castilian  proof;  stark  warriors,  hard  riders,  and 
men  of  iron;  with  these  he  scoured  the  Moorish  lands,  and 
made  his  name  terrible  throughout  the  borders.  His  castle- 
hall  was  covered  with  banners,  cimeters,  and  Moslem  helms, 
the  trophies  of  his  prowess.  Don  Munio  was,  moreover,  a  keen 
huntsman ;  and  rejoiced  in  hounds  of  all  kinds,  steeds  for  the 
chase,  and  hawks  for  the  towering  sport  of  falconry.  When  not 
engaged  in  warfare  his  delight  was  to  beat  up  the  neighboring 
forests ;  and  scarcely  ever  did  he  ride  forth  without  hound  and 
horn,  a  boar-spear  in  his  hand,  or  a  hawk  upon  his  fist,  and  an 
attendant  train  of  huntsmen. 

His  wife,  Dona  Maria  Palacin,  was  of  a  gentle  and  timid 
nature,  little  fitted  to  be  the  spouse  of  so  hardy  and  adventurous 
a  knight ;  and  many  a  tear  did  the  poor  lady  shed,  when  he 
sallied  forth  upon  his  daring  enterprises,  and  many  a  prayer  did 
she  offer  up  for  his  safety. 

As  this  doughty  cavalier  was  one  day  hunting,  he  stationed 
himself  in  a  tmcket,  on  the  borders  of  a  green  glade  of  the 
forest,  and  dispersed  his  followers  to  rouse  the  game,  and  drive 
it  toward  his  stand.  He  had  not  been  here  long,  when  a  caval 
cade  of  Moors,  of  both  sexes,  came  prankling  over  the  forest- 


SPANISH   COURTESY  321 

lawn.  They  were  unarmed,  and  magnificently  dressed  in  robes 
of  tissue  and  embroidery,  rich  shawls  of  India,  bracelets  and 
anklets  of  gold,  and  jewels  that  sparkled  in  the  sun. 

At  the  head  of  this  gay  cavalcade  rode  a  youthful  cavalier, 
superior  to  the  rest  in  dignity  and  loftiness  of  demeanor,  and  in 
splendor  of  attire ;  beside  him  was  a  damsel,  whose  veil,  blown 
aside  by  the  breeze,  displayed  a  face  of  surpassing  beauty,  and 
eyes  cast  down  in  maiden  modesty,  yet  beaming  with  tenderness 
and  joy. 

Don  Munio  thanked  his  stars  for  sending  him  such  a  prize, 
and  exulted  at  the  thought  of  bearing  home  to  his  wife  the 
glittering  spoils  of  these  infidels.  Putting  his  hunting-horn  to 
his  lips,  he  gave  a  blast  that  rung  through  the  forest.  His 
huntsmen  came  running  from  all  quarters,  and  the  astonished 
Moors  were  surrounded  and  made  captives. 

The  beautiful  Moor  wrung  her  hands  in  despair,  and  her 
female  attendants  uttered  the  most  piercing  cries.  The  young 
Moorish  cavalier  alone  retained  self-possession.  He  inquired  the 
name  of  the  Christian  knight  who  commanded  this  troop  of 
horsemen.  When  told  that  it  was  Don  Munio  Sancho  de 
Hinojosa,  his  countenance  lighted  up.  Approaching  that  cava 
lier,  and  kissing  his  hand,  "Don  Munio  Sancho,"  said  he,  "I 
have  heard  of  your  fame  as  a  true  and  valiant  knight,  terrible 
in  arms,  but  schooled  in  the  noble  virtues  of  chivalry.  Such 
do  I  trust  to  find  you.  In  me  you  behold  Abadil,  son  of  a 
Moorish  alcayde.  I  am  on  the  way  to  celebrate  my  nuptials 
with  this  lady;  chance  has  thrown  us  in  your  power,  but  I 
confide  in  your  magnanimity.  Take  all  our  treasure  and  jewels ; 
demand  what  ransom  you  think  proper  for  our  persons,  but 
suffer  us  not  to  be  insulted  nor  dishonored." 

When  the  good  knight  heard  this  appeal,  and  beheld  the 
beauty  of  the  youthful  pair,  his  heart  was  touched  with  ten 
derness  and  courtesy.  "God  forbid,"  said  he,  "that  I  should 
disturb  such  happy  nuptials.  My  prisoners  in  ^trpth  shall  ye 


322  .  THE    ALHAMBRA 

be,  for  fifteen  days,  and  immured  within  my  castle,  where  I 
claim,  as  conqueror,  the  right  of  celebrating  your  espousals." 

So  saying,  he  dispatched  one  of  his  fleetest  horsemen  in  ad 
vance,  to  notify  Dona  Maria  Palacin  of  the  coming  of  this  bridal 
party ;  while  he  and  his  huntsmen  escorted  the  cavalcade,  not 
as  captors,  but  as  a  guard  of  honor.  As  they  drew  near  to  the 
castle,  the  banners  were  hung  out,  and  the  trumpets  sounded 
from  the  battlements ;  and  on  their  nearer  approach,  the  draw 
bridge  was  lowered,  and  Dona  Maria  came  forth  to  meet  them, 
attended  by  her  ladies  and  knights,  her  pages  and  her  minstrels. 
She  took  the  young  bride,  Allifra,  in  her  arms,  kissed  her  with 
the  tenderness  of  a  sister,  and  conducted  her  into  the  castle. 
In  the  meantime,  Don  Munio  sent  forth  missives  in  every  direc 
tion,  and  had  viands  and  dainties  of  all  kinds  collected  from  the 
country  round ;  and  the  wedding  of  the  Moorish  lovers  was 
celebrated  with  all  possible  state  and  festivity.  For  fifteen  days 
the  castle  was  given  up  to  joy  and  revelry.  There  were  tiltings 
and  jousts  at  the  ring,  and  bull-fights,  and  banquets,  and  dances 
to  the  sound  of  minstrelsy.  When  the  fifteen  days  were  at  an 
end,  he  made  the  bride  and  bridegroom  magnificent  presents, 
and  conducted  them  and  their  attendants  safely  beyond  the 
borders.  Such,  in  old  times,  were  the  courtesy  and  generosity 
of  a  Spanish  cavalier. 

Several  years  after  this  event,  the  king  of  Castile  summoned 
his  nobles  to  assist  him  in  a  campaign  against  the  Moors.  Don 
Munio  Sancho  was  among  the  first  to  answer  to  the  call,  with 
seventy  horsemen,  all  stanch  and  well-tried  warriors.  His  wife, 
Dona  Maria,  hung  about  his  neck.  "  Alas,  my  lord  !  "  exclaimed 
she,  "how  often  wilt  thou  tempt  thy  fate,  and  when  will  thy 
thirst  for  glory  be  appeased  !  " 

"One  battle  more,'r  replied  Don  Munio,  "one  battle  more, 
for  the  honor  of  Castile,  and  I  here  make  a  vow,  that  when 
this  is  over,  I  will  lay  by  my  sword,  and  repair  with  my  cava 
liers  in  pilgrimage  to  the  sepulchre  of  our  Lord  at  Jerusalem." 


THE    MOURNING    VICTOR  323 

The  cavaliers  all  joined  with  him  in  the  vow,  and  Dona  Maria 
felt  in  some  degree  soothed  in  spirit ;  still,  she  saw  with  a  heavy 
heart  the  departure  of  her  husband,  and  watched  his  banner 
with  wistful  eyes,  until  it  disappeared  among  the  trees  of  the 
forest. 

The  king  of  Castile  led  his  army  to  the  plains  of  Almanara, 
where  they  encountered  the  Moorish  host,  near  to  Ucles.  The 
battle  was  long  and  bloody ;  the  Christians  repeatedly  wavered 
and  were  as  often  rallied  by  the  energy  of  their  commanders. 
Don  Munio  was  covered  with  wounds,  but  refused  to  leave  the 
field.  The  Christians  at  length  gave  way,  and  the  king  was 
hardly  pressed,  and  in  danger  of  being  captured. 

Don  Munio  called  upon  his  cavaliers  to  follow  him  to  the 
rescue.  "Now  is  the  time,"  cried  he,  "to  prove  your  loyalty. 
Fall  to,  like  brave  men !  We  fight  for  the  true  faith,  and  if 
we  lose  our  lives  here,  we  gain  a  better  life  hereafter." 

Rushing  with  his  men  between  the  king  and  his  pursuers, 
they  checked  the  latter  in  their  career,  and  gave  time  for  their 
monarch  to  escape ;  but  they  fell  victims  to  their  loyalty.  They 
all  fought  to  the  last  gasp.  Don  Munio  was  singled  out  by  a 
powerful  Moorish  knight,  but  having  been  wounded  in  the  right 
arm,  he  fought  to  disadvantage,  and  was  slain.  The  battle 
being  over,  the  Moor  paused  to  possess  himself  of  the  spoils  of 
this  redoubtable  Christian  warrior.  When  he  unlaced  the  hel 
met,  however,  and  beheld  the  countenance  of  Don  Munio,  he 
gave  a  great  cry  and  smote  his  breast.  "Woe  is  me  !"  cried 
he,  "  I  have  slain  my  benefactor  !  The  flower  of  knightly  vir 
tue  !  the  most  magnanimous  of  cavaliers  ! " 

While  the  battle  had  been  raging  on  the  plain  of  Salmanara, 
Dona  Maria  Palacin  remained  in  her  castle,  a  prey  to  the  keen 
est  anxiety.  Her  eyes  were  ever  fixed  on  the  road  that  led 
from  the  country  of  the  Moors,  and  often  she  asked  the  watch 
man  of  the  tower,  "  What  seest  thou  ? " 


324  THE    ALHAMBRA 

One  evening,  at  the  shadowy  hour  of  twilight,  the  warden 
sounded  his  horn.  "  I  see,"  cried  he,  "  a  numerous  train  winding 
up  the  valley.  There  are  mingled  Moors  and  Christians.  The 
banner  of  my  lord  is  in  the  advance.  Joyful  tidings  !  "  exclaimed 
the  old  seneschal;  "my  lord  returns  in  triumph,  and  brings 
captives  !  "  Then  the  castle  courts  rang  with  shouts  of  joy ; 
and  the  standard  was  displayed,  and  the  trumpets  were  sounded, 
and  the  drawbridge  was  lowered,  and  Dona  Maria  went  forth 
with  her  ladies,  and  her  knights,  and  her  pages,  and  her  min 
strels,  to  welcome  her  lord  from  the  wars.  But  as  the  train 
drew  nigh,  she  beheld  a  sumptuous  bier,  covered  with  black 
velvet,  and  on  it  lay  a  warrior,  as  if  taking  his  repose  :  he  lay 
in  his  armor,  with  his  helmet  on  his  head,  and  his  sword  in  his 
hand,  as  one  who  had  never  been  conquered,  and  around  the  bier 
were  the  escutcheons  of  the  house  of  Hinojosa. 

A  number  of  Moorish  cavaliers  attended  the  bier,  with  em 
blems  of  mourning,  and  with  dejected  countenances ;  and  their 
leader  cast  himself  at  the  feet  of  Dona  Maria,  and  hid  his  face 
in  his  hands.  She  beheld  in  him  the  gallant  Abadil,  whom 
she  had  once  welcomed  with  his  bride  to  her  castle ;  but  who 
now  came  with  the  body  of  the  lord,  whom  he  had  unknowingly 
slain  in  battle ! 

The  sepulchre  erected  in  the  cloisters  of  the  convent  of  San 
Domingo,  was  achieved  at  the  expense  of  the  Moor  Abadil,  as 
a  feeble  testimony  of  his  grief  for  the  death  of  the  good  knight 
Don  Munio,  and  his  reverence  for  his  memory.  The  tender  and 
faithful  Dona  Maria  soon  followed  her  lord  to  the  tomb.  On 
one  of  the  stones  of  a  small  arch,  beside  his  sepulchre,  is  the 
following  simple  inscription:  " Hie  jacet  Maria  Palaciny  uxor 
Munonis  Sancij  De  Finojosa ;"  —  (Here  lies  Maria  Palacin, 
wife  of  Munio  Sancho  de  Hinojosa). 

The  legend  of  Don  Munio  Sancho  does  not  conclude  with  his 
death.  On  the  same  day  on  which  the  battle  took  place  on  the 


THE    PHANTOM   PILGRIMAGE  325 

plain  of  Salmanara,  a  chaplain  of  the  Holy  Temple  at  Jerusalem, 
while  standing  at  the  outer  gate,  beheld  a  train  of  Christian 
cavaliers  advancing,  as  if  in  pilgrimage.  The  chaplain  was  a 
native  of  Spain,  and  as  the  pilgrims  approached,  he  knew  the 
foremost  to  be  Don  Munio  Sancho  de  Hinojosa,  with  whom  he 
had  been  well  acquainted  in  former  times.  Hastening  to  the 
jmtriarch,  he  told  him  of  the  honorable  rank  of  the  pilgrims  at 
the  gate.  The  patriarch,  therefore,  went  forth  with  a  grand 
procession  of  priests  and  monks,  and  received  the  pilgrims  with 
all  due  honor.  There  were  seventy  cavaliers  beside  their  leader, 
—  all  stark  and  lofty  warriors.  They  carried  their  helmets  in 
their  hands,  and  their  faces  were  deadly  pale.  They  greeted  no 
one,  nor  looked  either  to  the  right  or  to  the  left,  but  entered 
the  chapel,  and  kneeling  before  the  sepulchre  of  our  Saviour, 
performed  their  orisons  in  silence.  When  they  had  concluded, 
they  rose  as  if  to  depart,  and  the  patriarch  and  his  attendants 
advanced  to  speak  to  them,  but  they  were  no  more  to  be  seen. 
Every  one  marvelled  what  could  be  the  meaning  of  this  prodigy. 
The  patriarch  carefully  noted  down  the  day,  and  sent  to  Castile 
to  learn  tidings  of  Don  Munio  Sancho  de  Hinojosa.  He  re 
ceived  for  reply,  that  on  the  very  day  specified,  that  worthy 
knight,  with  seventy  of  his  followers,  had  been  slain  in  battle. 
These,  therefore,  must  have  been  the  blessed  spirits  of  those 
Christian  warriors,  come  to  fulfil  their  vow  of  pilgrimage  to  the 
Holy  Sepulchre  at  Jerusalem.  Such  was  Castilian  faith  in  the 
olden  time,  which  kept  its  word,  even  beyond  the  grave. 

If  any  one  should  doubt  of  the  miraculous  apparition  of  these 
phantom  knights,  let  him  consult  the  History  of  the  Kings  of 
Castile  and  Leon,  by  the  learned  and  pious  Fray  Prudencio  de 
Sandoval,  bishop  of  Pamplona,  where  he  will  find  it  recorded  in 
the  History  of  King  Don  Alonzo  VI.,  on  the  hundred  and  second 
page.  It  is  top  precious  a  legend  to  be  lightly  abandoned  to 
the  doubter. 


326  THE   ALHAMBRA 


POETS  AND  POETRY  OF  MOSLEM  ANDALUS 

DURING  the  latter  part  of  my  sojourn  in  the  Alhambra  I  was 
more  than  once  visited  by  the  Moor  of  Tetuan,  with  whom  I  took 
great  pleasure  in  rambling  through  the  halls  and  courts,  and 
getting  him  to  explain  to  me  the  Arabic  inscriptions.  He  en 
deavored  to  do  so  faithfully ;  but,  though  he  succeeded  in  giv 
ing  me  the  thought,  he  despaired  of  imparting  an  idea  of  the 
grace  and  beauty  of  the  language.  The  aroma  of  the  poetry, 
said  he,  is  all  lost  in  translation.  Enough  was  imparted,  how 
ever,  to  increase  the  stock  of  my  delightful  associations  with 
this  extraordinary  pile.  Perhaps  there  never  was  a  monument 
more  characteristic  of  an  age  and  people  than  the  Alhambra ;  a 
rugged  fortress  without,  a  voluptuous  palace,  within ;  war  frown 
ing  from  its  battlements  ;  poetry  breathing  throughout  the  fairy 
architecture  of  its  halls.  One  is  irresistibly  transported  in 
imagination  to  those  times  when  Moslem  Spain  was  a  region  of 
light  amid  Christian,  yet  benighted  Europe ;  externally  a  warrior 
power  fighting  for  existence;  internally  a  realm  devoted  to  liter 
ature,  science,  and  the  arts  ;  where  philosophy  was  cultivated 
with  passion,  though  wrought  up  into  subtleties  and  refinement ; 
and  where  the  luxuries  of  sense  were  transcended  by  those  of 
thought  and  imagination. 

Arab  poetry,  we  are  told,  arrived  at  its  highest  splendor 
under  the  Ommiades  of  Spain,  who  for  a  long  time  centred  the 
power  and  splendor  of  the  Western  Caliphat  at  Cordova.  Most 
of  the  sovereigns  of  that  brilliant  line  were  themselves  poets. 
One  of  the  last  of  them  was  Mahomed  ben  Abderahman.  He 
led  the  life  of  a  sybarite  in  the  famous  palace  and  gardens  of 
Azahara,  surrounding  himself  with  all  that  could  excite  the 
imagination  and  delight  the  senses.  His  palace  was  the  resort 
of  poets.  His  vizier,  Ibn  Zeydun,  was  called  the  Horace  of 
Moslem  Spain,  from  Jiis  exquisite  verses,  which  were  recited 


ENCOURAGEMENT    OF    LITERATURE  327 

with  enthusiasm  even  in  the  saloons  of  the  Eastern  Caliphs. 
The  vizier  became  passionately  enamoured  of  the  princess  Walada, 
daughter  of  Mahomed.  She  was  the  idol  of  her  father's  court, 
a  poetess  of  the  highest  order,  and  renowned  for  beauty  as  well 
as  talent.  If  Ibn  Zeydun  was  the  Horace  of  Moslem  Spain,  she 
was  its  Sappho.  The  princess  became  the  subject  of  the  vizier's 
most  impassioned  verses ;  especially  of  a  famous  risaleh  or 
epistle  addressed  to  her,  which  the  historian  Ash-Shakandi  de 
clares  has  never  been  equalled  for  tenderness  and  melancholy. 
Whether  the  poet  was  happy  in  his  love,  the  authors  I  have 
consulted  do  not  say ;  but  one  intimates  that  the  princess  was 
discreet  as  she  was  beautiful,  and  caused  many  a  lover  to  sigh 
in  vain.  In  fact,  the  reign  of  love  and  poetry  in  the  delicious 
abode  of  Zahara,  was  soon  brought  to  a  close  by  a  popular  in 
surrection.  Mahomed  with  his  family  took  refuge  in  the  for 
tress  of  Ucles,  near  Toledo,  where  he  was  treacherously  poisoned 
by  the  Alcayde;  and  thus  perished  one  of  the  last  of  the 
Ommiades. 

The  downfall  of  that  brilliant  dynasty,  which  had  concen 
trated  everything  at  Cordova,  was  favorable  to  the  general 
literature  of  Morisco  Spain. 

"After  the  breaking  of  the  necklace  and  the  scattering  of  its 
pearls,"  says  Ash-Shakandi,  "  the  kings  of  small  states  divided 
among  themselves  the  patrimony  of  the  Beni  Ommiah." 

They  vied  with  each  other  in  filling  their  capitals  with  poets 
and  learned  men,  and  rewarded  them  with  boundless  prodigality. 
Such  were  the  Moorish  kings  of  Seville  of  the  illustrious  line 
of  the  Beni  Abbad,  "with  whom,"  says  the  same  writer,  "re 
sided  fruit  and  palm-trees  and  pomegranates  •  who  became  the 
centre  of  eloquence  in  prose  and  verse;  every  day  of  whose 
reign  was  a  solemn  festivity ;  whose  history  abounds  in  gener 
ous  actions  and  heroic  deeds,  that  will  last  through  surrounding 
ages  and  live  forever  in  the  memory  of  man  ! " 

No  place,  however,  profited  more  in  point  of  civilization  and 


328  THE    ALHAMBRA 

refinement  by  the  downfall  of  the  Western  Caliphat  than  Gra 
nada.  It  succeeded  to  Cordova  in  splendor,  while  it  surpassed 
it  in  romantic  beauty  of  situation.  The  amenity  of  its  climate, 
where  the  ardent  heats  of  a  southern  summer  were  tempered  by 
breezes  from  snow-clad  mountains  ;  the  voluptuous  repose  of  its 
valleys  and  the  bosky  luxuriance  of  its  groves  and  gardens,  all 
awakened  sensations  of  delight,  and  disposed  the  mind  to  love 
and  poetry.  Hence  the  great  number  of  amatory  poets  that 
flourished  in  Granada.  Hence  those  amorous  canticles  breath 
ing  of  love  and  war,  and  wreathing  chivalrous  grace  round  the 
stern  exercise  of  arms.  Those  ballads  which  still  form  the  pride 
and  delight  of  Spanish  literature  are  but  the  echoes  of  amatory 
and  chivalric  lays,  which  once  delighted  the  Moslem  courts  of 
Andalus;  and  in  which  a  modern  historian  of  Granada  pre 
tends  to  find  the  origin  of  the  rima  Castellana  and  the  type  of 
the  "gay  science"  of  the  troubadours.1 

Poetry  was  cultivated  in  Granada  by  both  sexes.  "Had 
Allah,"  says  Ash-Shakandi,  "bestowed  no  other  boon  on  Gra 
nada  than  that  of  making  it  the  birthplace  of  so  many  poet 
esses,  that  alone  would  be  sufficient  for  its  glory." 

Among  the  most  famous  of  these  was  Hafsah;  renowned, 
says  the  old  chronicler,  for  beauty,  talents,  nobility,  and  wealth. 
We  have  a  mere  relic  of  her  poetry  in  some  verses,  addressed  to 
her  lover,  Ahmed,  recalling  an  evening  passed  together  in  the 
garden  of  Maumal, 

"  Allah  has  given  us  a  happy  night,  such  as  he  never  vouch 
safes  to  the  wicked  and  the  ignoble.  We  have  beheld  the  cy 
presses  of  Maumal  gently  bowing  their  heads  before  the  mountain 
breeze,  —  the  sweet  perfumed  breeze  that  smelt  of  gillyflowers ; 
the  dove  murmured  her  love  among  the  trees ;  the  sweet  basil 
inclined  its  boughs  to  the  limpid  brook." 

The  garden  of  Maumal  was  famous  among  the  Moors  for  its 
rivulets,  its  fountains,  its  flowers,  and  above  all,  its  cypresses. 
It  had  its  name  from  a  vizier  of  Abdallah,  grandson  of  Aben 


THE    GARDEN    OF   MAUMAL  329 

Habuz,  and  Sultan  of  Granada.  Under  the  administration  of 
this  vizier  many  of  the  noblest  public  works  were  executed.  He 
constructed  an  aqueduct  by  which  water  was  brought  from  the 
mountains  of  Alfacar  to  irrigate  the  hills  and  orchards  north  of 
the  city.  He  planted  a  public  walk  with  cypress-trees,  and 
"  made  delicious  gardens  for  the  solace  of  the  melancholy  Moors." 
"  The  name  of  Maumal,"  says  Alcantara,  "ought  to  be  preserved 
in  Granada  in  letters  of  gold."  Perhaps  it  is  as  well  preserved 
by  being  associated  with  the  garden  he  planted ;  and  by  being 
mentioned  in  the  verses  of  Hafsah.  How  often  does  a  casual 
word  from  a  poet  confer  immortality  ! 

Perhaps  the  reader  may  be  curious  to  learn  something  of  the 
story  of  Hafsah  and  her  lover,  thus  connected  with  one  of  the 
beautiful  localities  of  Granada.  The  following  are  all  the  partic 
ulars  I  have  been  able  to  rescue  out  of  the  darkness  and  obliv 
ion  which  have  settled  upon  the  brightest  names  and  geniuses 
of  Moslem  Spain. 

Ahmed  and  Hafsah  flourished  in  the  sixth  century  of  the 
Hegira;  the  twelfth  of  the  Christian  Era.  Ahmed  was  the 
son  of  the  Alcayde  of  Alcala  la  Real.  His  father  designed  him 
for  public  and  military  life,  and  would  have  made  him  his  lieu 
tenant  ;  but  the  youth  was  of  a  poetical  temperament,  and  pre 
ferred  a  life  of  lettered  ease  in  the  delightful  abodes  of  Granada. 
Here  he  surrounded  himself  by  objects  of  taste  in  the  arts,  and 
by  the  works  of  the  learned  ;  he  divided  his  time  between  study 
and  social  enjoyment.  He  was  fond  of  the  sports  of  the  field, 
and  kept  horses,  hawks,  and  hounds.  He  devoted  himself  to 
literature,  became  renowned  for  erudition,  and  his  compositions 
in  prose  and  verse  were  extolled  for  their  beauty,  and  in  the 
mouths  of  every  one. 

Of  a  tender,  susceptible  heart,  and  extremely  sensible  to  fe 
male  charms,  he  became  the  devoted  lover  of  Hafsah.  The 
passion  was  mutual,  and  for  once  the  course  of  true  love  ap 
peared  to  run  smooth.  The  lovers  were  both  young,  equal  in 


330  THE    ALHAMBRA 

merit,  fame,  rank,  and  fortune,  enamored  of  each  other's  genius 
as  well  as  person,  and  inhabiting  a  region  formed  to  be  a  realm 
of  love  and  poetry.  A  poetical  intercourse  was  carried  on  be 
tween  them  that  formed  the  delight  of  Granada.  They  were 
continually  interchanging  verses  and  epistles;  "the  poetry  of 
which,"  says  the  Arabian  writer,  Al  Makkari,  "was  like  the 
language  of  doves." 

In  the  height  of  their  happiness  a  change  took  place  in  the 
government  of  Granada.  It  was  the  time  when  the  Almohades, 
a  Berber  tribe  of  Mount  Atlas,  had  acquired  the  control  of  Mos 
lem  Spain,  and  removed  the  seat  of  government  from  Cordova 
to  Morocco.  The  Sultan  Abdelmuman  governed  Spain  through 
his  Walis  and  Alcaydes,  and  his  son,  Sidi  Abu  Said,  was  made 
Wali  of  Granada.  He  governed  in  his  father's  name  with  royal 
state  and  splendor,  and  with  despotic  sway.  Being  a  stranger 
in  the  country,  and  a  Moor  by  birth,  he  sought  to  strengthen 
himself  by  drawing  round  him  popular  persons  of  the  Arab  race  ; 
and  to  this  effect  made  Ahmed,  who  was  then  in  the  zenith  of 
his  fame  and  popularity,  his  vizier.  Ahmed  would  have  de 
clined  the  post,  but  the  Wali  was  peremptory.  His  duties 
were  irksome  to  him,  and  he  spurned  at  its  restraint.  On  a 
hawking-party,  with  some  of  his  gay  companions,  he  gave  way 
to  his  poetic  vein,  exulting  in  his  breaking  away  from  the 
thraldom  of  a  despotic  master  like  a  hawk  from  the  jesses  of 
the  falconer,  to  follow  the  soaring  impulses  of  his  soul. 

His  words  were  repeated  to  Sidi  Abu  Said.  "Ahmed,"  said 
the  informant,  "  spurns  at  restraint  and  scoffs  at  thy  authority." 
The  poet  was  instantly  dismissed  from  office.  The  loss  of  an 
irksome  post  was  no  grievance  to  one  of  his  joyous  tempera 
ment  ;  but  he  soon  discovered  the  real  cause  of  his  removal. 
The  Wali  was  his  rival.  He  had  seen  and  become  enamored  of 
Hafsah.  What  was  worse,  Hafsah  was  dazzled  with  the  con 
quest  she  had  made. 

For  a  time  Ahmed  treated  the  matter  with  ridicule;  and  ap- 


SIDI  ABU   SAID  331 

pealed  to  the  prejudice  existing  between  the  Arab  and  Moorish 
races.  Sidi  Abu  Said  was  of  a  dark  olive  complexion.  "  How 
canst  thou  endure  that  black  man  ?  "  said  he,  scornfully.  "  By 
Allah,  for  twenty  dinars  I  can  buy  thee  a  better  than  he  in  the 
slave-market." 

The  scoff  reached  the  ears  of  Sidi  Abu  Said  and  rankled  in 
his  heart. 

At  other  times  Ahmed  gave  way  to  grief  and  tenderness,  re 
calling  past  scenes  of  happiness,  reproaching  Hafsah  with  her 
inconstancy,  and  warning  her  in  despairing  accents  that  she 
would  be  the  cause  of  his  death.  His  words  were  unheeded. 
The  idea  of  having  the  son  of  the  Sultan  for  a  lover  had  cap 
tivated  the  imagination  of  the  poetess. 

Maddened  by  jealousy  and  despair,  Ahmed  joined  in  a  con 
spiracy  against  the  ruling  dynasty.  It  was  discovered,  and  the 
conspirators  fled  from  Granada.  Some  escaped  to  a  castle  on 
the  mountains,  Ahmed  took  refuge  in  Malaga,  where  he  con 
cealed  himself,  intending  to  embark  for  Valencia.  He  was  dis 
covered,  loaded  with  chains,  and  thrown  into  a  dungeon,  to 
abide  the  decision  of  Sidi  Abu  Said. 

He  was  visited  in  prison  by  a  nephew,  who  has  left  on  record 
an  account  of  the  interview.  The  youth  was  moved  to  tears  at 
seeing  his  illustrious  relative,  late  so  prosperous  and  honored, 
fettered  like  a  malefactor. 

"  Why  dost  thou  weep  1 "  said  Ahmed.  "  Are  these  tears 
shed  for  me  ?  For  me,  who  have  enjoyed  all  that  the  world 
could  give  1  Weep  not  for  me.  I  have  had  my  share  of  hap 
piness  ;  banqueted  on  the  daintiest  fare ;  quaffed  out  of  crystal 
cups ;  slept  on  beds  of  down  ;  been  arrayed  in  the  richest  silks 
and  brocades ;  ridden  the  fleetest  steeds ;  enjoyed  the  loves  of 
the  fairest  maidens.  Weep  not  for  me.  My  present  reverse  is 
but  the  inevitable  course  of  fate.  I  have  committed  acts  which 
render  pardon  hopeless.  I  must  await  my  punishment." 

His  presentiment  was  correct.     The  vengeance  of  Sidi  Abu 


332  THE    ALHAMBRA 

Said  was  only  to  be  satisfied  by  the  blood  of  his  rival,  and  the 
unfortunate  Alimed  was  beheaded  at  Malaga,  in  the  month 
Jumadi,  in  the  year  559  of  the  Hegira  (April,  1164).  When 
the  news  was  brought  to  the  fickle-hearted  Hafsah,  she  was 
struck  with  sorrow  and  remorse,  and  put  on  mourning ;  recall 
ing  his  warning  words,  and  reproaching  herself  with  being  the 
cause  of  his  death. 

Of  the  after  fortunes  of  Hafsah  I  have  no  further  trace  than 
that  she  died  in  Morocco,  in  1184,  outliving  both  her  lovers, 
for  Sidi  Abu  Said  died  in  Morocco  of  the  plague  in  1175.  A 
memorial  of  his  residence  in  Granada  remained  in  a  palace 
which  he  built  on  the  banks  of  the  Xenil.  The  garden  of  Mau- 
mal,  the  scene  of  the  early  lives  of  Ahmed  and  Hafsah,  is  no 
longer  in  existence.  Its  site  may  be  found  by  the  antiquary  in 
poetical  research.2 

1  Miguel  Lafuente  Alcantara. 

2  The  authorities  for  the  foregoing :  Alcantara,  Hist.  Granada ; 
Al  Makkari,  Hist.  Mohamed  ;  Dynasties  in  Spain,  B.  ii.  c.  3  ;  Notes 
and  illustrations  of  the  same,  by  Gayangos,  Vol.  I.  p.  440  ;  Ibnu 
Al  Kahttib,  Biograph.  Die.,  cited  by  Gayangos ;  Conde  Hist,  Dom. 
Arab. 


AN  EXPEDITION  IN  QUEST   OF  A  DIPLOMA 

ONE  of  the  most  important  occurrences  in  the  domestic  life 
of  the  Alhambra,  was  the  departure  of  Manuel,  the  nephew  of 
Dona  Antonia,  for  Malaga,  to  stand  examination  as  a  physician. 
I  have  already  informed  the  reader  that,  on  his  success  in  ob 
taining  a  degree  depended  in  a  great  measure  the  union  and 
future  fortunes  of  himself  and  his  cousin  Dolores  ;  at  least  so  I 
was  privately  informed  by  Mateo  Ximenes,  and  various  circum 
stances  concurred  to  corroborate  his  information.  Their  court 
ship,  however,  was  carried  on  very  quietly  and  discreetly,  and 


TIO  POLO  333 

I  scarce  think  I  should  have  discovered  it,  if  I  had  not  been  put 
on  the  alert  by  the  all-observant  Mateo. 

In  the  present  instance,  Dolores  was  less  on  the  reserve,  and 
had  busied  herself  for  several  days  in  fitting  out  honest  Manuel 
for  his  expedition.  All  his  clothes  had  been  arranged  and 
packed  in  the  neatest  order,  and  above  all  she  had  worked  a 
smart  Andalusian  travelling-jacket  for  him  with  her  own  hands. 
On  the  morning  appointed  for  his  departure,  a  stout  mule  on 
which  he  was  to  perform  the  journey  was  paraded  at  the  portal 
of  the  Alhambra,  and  Tio  Polo  (Uncle  Polo),  an  old  invalid 
soldier,  attended  to  caparison  him.  This  veteran  was  one  of 
the  curiosities  of  the  place.  He  had  a  leathern  lantern  visage, 
tanned  in  the  tropics,  a  long  Roman  nose,  and  a  black  beetle 
eye.  I  had  frequently  observed  him  reading,  apparently  with 
intense  interest,  an  old  parchment-bound  volume ;  sometimes  he 
would  be  surrounded  by  a  group  of  his  brother  invalids ;  some 
seated  on  the  parapets,  some  lying  on  the  grass,  listening  with 
fixed  attention,  while  he  read  slowly  and  deliberately  out  of 
his  favorite  work,  sometimes  pausing  to  explain  or  expound  for 
the  benefit  of  his  less  enlightened  auditors. 

I  took  occasion  one  day  to  inform  myself  of  this  ancient  book, 
which  appeared  to  be  his  vade  mecum,  and  found  it  to  be  an 
odd  volume  of  .the  works  of  Padre  Benito  Geronymo  Feyjoo ; 
and  that  one  which  treats  about  the  Magic  of  Spain,  the 
mysterious  caves  of  Salamanca  and  Toledo,  the  Purgatory  of 
San  Patricio  (St.  Patrick),  and  other  mystic  subjects  of  the 
kind.  From  that  time  I  kept  my  eye  upon  the  veteran. 

On  the  present  occasion  I  amused  myself  with  watching  him 
fit  out  the  steed  of  Manuel  with  all  the  forecast  of  an  old  cam 
paigner.  First  he  took  a  considerable  time  in  adjusting  to  the 
back  of  the  mule  a  cumbrous  saddle  of  antique  fashion,  high  in 
front  and  behind,  with  Moorish  stirrups  like  shovels ;  the  whole 
looking  like  a  relic  of  the  old  armory  of  the  Alhambra  ;  then  a 
fleecy  sheepskin  was  accommodated  to  the  deep  seat  of  the  saddle  ; 


334  THE    ALHAMBRA 

then  a  maleta,  neatly  packed  by  the  hand  of  Dolores,  was 
buckled  behind  ;  then  a  manta  was  thrown  over  it  to  serve 
either  as  cloak  or  couch ;  then  the  all-important  alforjas,  care 
fully  stocked  with  provant,  were  hung  in  front,  together  with 
the  bota,  or  leathern  bottle  for  either  wine  or  water,  and  lastly 
the  trabucho,  which  the  old  soldier  slung  behind,  giving  it  his 
benediction.  It  was  like  the  fitting  out  in  old  times  of  a  Moor 
ish  cavalier  for  a  foray  or  a  joust  in  the  Vivarrambla.  A  num 
ber  of  the  lazzaroni  of  the  fortress  had  gathered  round,  with 
some  of  the  invalids,  all  looking  on,  all  offering  their  aid,  and 
all  giving  advice,  to  the  great  annoyance  of  Tio  Polo. 

When  all  was  ready  Manuel  took  leave  of  the  household ; 
Tio  Polo  held  his  stirrup  while  he  mounted,  adjusted  the  girths 
and  saddle,  and  cheered  him  off  in  military  style ;  then  turning 
to  Dolores,  who  stood  admiring  her  cavalier  as  he  trotted  off, 
"Ah  Dolorocita,"  exclaimed  he,  with  a  nod  and  a  wink,  " es 
rtiuy  guapo  Manuelito  in  su  Xaqueta  "  (Ah  Dolores,  Manuel  is 
mighty  fine  in  his  jacket).  The  little  damsel  blushed  and 
laughed,  and  ran  into  the  house. 

Days  elapsed  without  tidings  from  Manuel,  though  he  had 
promised  to  write.  The  heart  of  Dolores  began  to  misgive  her. 
Had  anything  happened  to  him  on  the  road  ?  Had  he  failed  in 
his  examination  1  A  circumstance  occurred  in  her  little  house 
hold  to  add  to  her  uneasiness  and  fill  her  mind  with  foreboding. 
It  was  almost  equal  to  the  escapado  of  her  pigeon.  Her  tortoise- 
shell  cat  eloped  at  night  and  clambered  to  the  tiled  roof  of  the 
Alhambra.  In  the  dead  of  the  night  there  was  a  fearful  cater 
wauling  ;  some  grimalkin  was  uncivil  to  her ;  then  there  was  a 
scramble ;  then  a  clapper-clawing ;  then  both  parties  rolled  off 
the  roof  and  tumbled  from  a  great  height  among  the  trees  on 
the  hill-side.  Nothing  more  was  seen  or  heard  of  the  fugitive, 
and  poor  Dolores  considered  it  but  the  prelude  to  greater  calami 
ties. 

At  the  end  of  ten  days,  however,  Manuel  returned  in  triumph, 


TIO    POLO  .         335 

duly  authorized  to  kill  or  cure  ;  and  all  Dolores'  cares  were  over. 
There  was  a  general  gathering  in  the  evening  of  the  humble 
friends  and  hangers-on  of  Dame  Antonia  to  congratulate  her  and 
to  pay  their  respects  to  el  Senor  Medico,  who,  peradventure, 
at  some  future  day,  might  have  all  their  lives  in  his  hands. 
One  of  the  most  important  of  these  guests  was  old  Tio  Polo ; 
and  I  gladly  seized  the  occasion  to  prosecute  my  acquaintance 
with  him.  "Oh  Senor,"  cried  Dolores,  "you  who  are  so  eager 
to  learn  all  the  old  histories  of  the  Alhambra,  Tio  Polo  knows 
more  about  them  than  any  one  else  about  the  place.  More' 
than  Mateo  Ximenes  and  his  whole  family  put  together.  Vaya 
—  Vaya  —  Tio  Polo,  tell  the  Senor  all  those  stories  you  told 
us  one  evening,  about  enchanted  Moors,  and  the  haunted  bridge 
over  the  Darro,  and  the  old  stone  pomegranates,  that  have  been 
there  since  the  days  of  King  Chico." 

It  was  some  time  before  the  old  invalid  could  be  brought  into 
a  narrative  vein.  He  shook  his  head  —  they  were  all  idle  tales  ; 
not  worthy  of  being  told  to  a  cavallero  like  myself.  It  was 
only  by  telling  some  stories  of  the  kind  myself  I  at  last  got 
him  to  open  his  budget.  It  was  a  whimsical  farrago,  partly 
made  up  of  what  he  had  heard  in  the  Alhambra,  partly  of  what 
he  had  read  in  Padre  Feyjoo.  I  will  endeavor  to  give  the 
reader  the  substance  of  it,  but  I  will  not  promise  to  give  it  in 
the  very  words  of  Tio  Polo. 


THE  LEGEND  OF  THE  ENCHANTED  SOLDIER 

EVERYBODY  has  heard  of  the  Cave  of  St.  Cyprian  at  Sala 
manca,  where  in  old  times  judicial  astronomy,  necromancy, 
chiromancy,  and  other  dark  and  damnable  arts  were  secretly 
taught  by  an  ancient  sacristan  ;  or,  as  some  will  have  it,  by 
the  devil  himself,  in  that  disguise.  The  cave  has  long  been 
shut  up  and  the  very  site  of  it  forgotten ;  though,  according  to 


336  THE    ALHAMBRA 

tradition,  the  entrance  was  somewhere  about  where  the  stone 
cross  stands  in  the  small  square  of  the  seminary  of  Carvajal ; 
and  this  tradition  appears  in  some  degree  corroborated  by  the 
circumstances  of  the  following  story. 

There  was  at  one  time  a  student  of  Salamanca,  Don  Vicente 
by  name,  of  that  merry  but  mendicant  class  who  set  out  on 
the  road  to  learning  without  a  penny  in  pouch  for  the  journey, 
and  who,  during  college  vacations,  beg  from  town  to  town  and 
village  to  village  to  raise  funds  to  enable  them  to  pursue  their 
studies  through  the  ensuing  term.  He  was  now  about  to  set 
forth  on  his  wanderings ;  and  being  somewhat  musical,  slung 
on  his  back  a  guitar  with  which  to  amuse  the  villagers,  and 
pay  for  a  meal  or  a  night's  lodging. 

As  he  passed  by  the  stone  cross  in  the  seminary  square,  he 
pulled  off  his  hat  and  made  a  short  invocation  to  St.  Cyprian, 
for  good  luck  ;  when  casting  his  eyes  upon  the  earth,  he  per 
ceived  something  glitter  at  the  foot  of  the  cross.  On  picking  it 
up,  it  proved  to  be  a  seal-ring  of  mixed  metal,  in  which  gold  and 
silver  appeared  to  be  blended.  The  seal  bore  as  a  device  two 
triangles  crossing  each  other,  so  as  to  form  a  star.  This  device 
is  said  to  be  a  cabalistic  sign,  invented  by  king  Solomon  the 
wise,  and  of  mighty  power  in  all  cases  of  enchantment ;  but 
the  honest  student,  being  neither  sage  nor  conjurer,  knew  noth 
ing  of  the  matter.  He  took  the  ring  as  a  present  from  St. 
Cyprian  in  reward  of  his  prayer ;  slipped  it  on  his  finger,  made 
a  bow  to  the  cross,  and  strumming  his  guitar,  set  off  merrily  on 
his  wandering. 

The  life  of  a  mendicant  student  in  Spain  is  not  the  most  miser 
able  in  the  world ;  especially  if  he  has  any  talent  at  making 
himself  agreeable.  He  rambles  at  large  from  village  to  village, 
and  city  to  city,  wherever  curiosity  or  caprice  may  conduct  him. 
The  country  curates,  who,  for  the  most  part,  have  been  mendi 
cant  students  in  their  time,  give  him  shelter  for  the  night,  and 
a  comfortable  meal,  and  often  enrich  him  with  several  quartos, 


A    MENDICANT   STUDENT        x  337 

or  half-pence  in  the  morning.  As  he  presents  himself  from 
door  to  door  in  the  streets  of  the  cities,  he  meets  with  no  harsh 
rebuff,  no  chilling  contempt,  for  there  is  no  disgrace  attending 
his  mendicity,  many  of  the  most  learned  men  in  Spain  having 
commenced  their  career  in  this  manner ;  but  if,  like  the  student 
in  question,  he  is  a  good-looking  varlet  and  a  merry  companion  ; 
and,  above  all,  if  he  can  play  the  guitar,  he  is  sure  of  a  hearty 
welcome  among  the  peasants,  and  smiles  and  favors  from  their 
wives  and  daughters. 

In  this  way,  then,  did  our  ragged  and  musical  son  of  learning 
make  his  way  over  half  the  kingdom ;  with  the  fixed  determina 
tion  to  visit  the  famous  city  of  Granada  before  his  return. 
Sometimes  he  was  gathered  for  the  night  into  the  fold  of  some 
village  pastor;  sometimes  he  was  sheltered  under  the  humble 
but  hospitable  roof  of  the  peasant.  Seated  at  the  cottage-door 
with  his  guitar,  he  delighted  the  simple  folk  with  his  ditties ;  or 
striking  up  a  fandango  or  bolero,  set  the  brown  country  lads 
and  lasses  dancing  in  the  mellow  twilight.  In  the  morning  he 
departed  with  kind  words  from  host  and  hostess,  and  kind  looks 
and,  peradventure,  a  squeeze  of  the  hand  from  the  daughter. 

At  length  he  aigived  at  the  great  object  of  his  musical  vaga 
bondizing,  the  far-famed  city  of  Granada,  and  hailed  with  won 
der  and  delight  its  Moorish  towers,  its  lovely  vega,  and  its 
snowy  mountains  glistening  through  a  summer  atmosphere.  It 
is  needless  to  say  with  what  eager  curiosity  he  entered  its  gates 
and  wandered  through  its  streets,  and  gazed  upon  its  oriental 
monuments.  Every  female  face  peering  through  a  window  or 
beaming  from  a  balcony  was  to  him  a  Zorayda  or  a  Zelinda,  nor 
could  he  meet  a  stately  dame  on  the  Alameda  but  he  was  ready 
to  fancy  her  a  Moorish  princess,  and  to  spread  his  student's  robe 
beneath  her  feet. 

His  musical  talent,  his  happy  humor,  his  youth  and  his  good 
looks,  won  him  a  universal  welcome  in  spite  of  his  ragged  robes, 
and  for  several  days  he  led  a  gay  life  m  the  old  Moorish  capital 


338  THE    ALHAMBRA 

and  its  environs.  One  of  his  occasional  haunts  was  the  foun 
tain  of  Avellanos,  in  the  valley  of  Darro.  It  is  one  of  the 
popular  resorts  of  Granada,  and  has  been  so  since  the  days  of 
the  Moors ;  and  here  the  student  had  an  opportunity  of  pursu 
ing  his  studies  of  female  beauty,  a  branch  of  study  to  which 
he  was  a  little  prone. 

Here  he  would  take  his  seat  with  his  guitar,  improvise  love- 
ditties  to  admiring  groups  of  majos  and  majas,  or  prompt  with 
his  music  the  ever-ready  dance.  He  was  thus  engaged  one 
evening  when  he  beheld  a  padre  of  the  church  advancing,  at 
whose  approach  every  one  touched  the  hat.  He  was  evidently 
a  man  of  consequence ;  he  certainly  was  a  mirror  of  good  if  not 
of  holy  living;  robust  and  rosy-faced,  and  breathing  at  every 
pore  with  the  warmth  of  the  weather  and  the  exercise  of  the 
walk.  As  he  passed  along  he  would  every  now  and  then  draw 
a  maravedi  out  of  his  pocket  and  bestow  it  on  a  beggar  with 
an  air  of  signal  beneficence.  "  Ah,  the  blessed  father  ! "  would 
be  the  cry  ;  "  long  life  to  him,  and  may  he  soon  be  a  bishop ! " 

To  aid  his  steps  in  ascending  the  hill  he  leaned  gently  now 
and  then  on  the  arm  of  a  handmaid,  evidently  the  pet  lamb  of 
this  kindest  of  pastors.  Ah,  such  a  damsel!  Andalus  from 
head  to  foot ;  from  the  rose  in  her  hair,  to  the  fairy  shoe  and 
lacework  stocking ;  Andalus  in  every  movement ;  in  every  un 
dulation  of  the  body  :  —  ripe,  melting  Andalus  !  —  But  then  so 
modest !  —  so  shy  !  —  ever,  with  downcast  eyes,  listening  to  the 
words  of  the  padre ;  or,  if  by  chance  she  let  flash  a  side  glance, 
it  was  suddenly  checked  and  her  eyes  once  more  cast  to  the 
ground. 

The  good  padre  looked  benignantly  on  the  company  about 
the  fountain,  and  took  his  seat  with  some  emphasis  on  a  stone 
bench,  while  the  handmaid  hastened  to  bring  him  a  glass  of 
sparkling  water.  He  sipped  it  deliberately  and  with  a  relish, 
tempering  it  with  one  of  those  spongy  pieces  of  frosted  eggs 
and  sugar  so  dear  to  Spanish  epicures,  and  on  returning  the 


A    MODEL    PASTOR  339 

glass  to  the  hand  of  the  damsel  pinched  her  cheek  with  infinite 
loving-kindness. 

"Ah,  the  good  pastor!"  whispered  the  student  to  himself; 
"  what  a  happiness  would  it  be  to  be  gathered  into  his  fold 
with  such  a  pet  lamb  for  a  companion  ! " 

But  no  such  good  fare  was  likely  to  befall  him.  In  vain  he 
essayed  those  powers  of  pleasing  which  he  had  found  so  irre 
sistible  with  country  curates  and  country  lasses.  Never  had  he 
touched  his  guitar  with  such  skill ;  never  had  he  poured  forth 
more  soul-moving  ditties,  but  he  had  no  longer  a  country  curate 
or  country  lass  to  deal  with.  The  worthy  priest  evidently  did 
not  relish  music,  and  the  modest  damsel  never  raised  her  eyes 
from  the  ground.  They  remained  but  a  short  time  at  the 
fountain ;  the  good  padre  hastened  their  return  to  Granada. 
The  damsel  gave  the  student  one  shy  glance  in  retiring ;  but 
it  plucked  the  heart  out  of  his  bosom  ! 

He  inquired  about  them  after  they  had  gone.  Padre  Tomas 
was  one  of  the  saints  of  Granada,  a  model  of  regularity ;  punc 
tual  in  his  hour  of  rising ;  his  hour  of  taking  a  paseo  for  an 
appetite;  his  hours  of  eating;  his  hour  of  taking  his  siesta; 
his  hour  of  playing  his  game  of  tresillo,  of  an  evening,  with 
some  of  the  dames  of  the  Cathedral  circle ;  his  hour  of  supping, 
and  his  hour  of  retiring  to  rest,  to  gather  fresh  strength  for 
another  day's  round  of  similar  duties.  He  had  an  easy  sleek 
mule  for  his  riding ;  a  matronly  housekeeper  skilled  in  prepar 
ing  tid-bits  for  his  table;  and  the  pet  lamb,  to  smooth  his 
pillow  at  night  and  bring  him  his  chocolate  in  the  morning. 

Adieu  now  to  the  gay,  thoughtless  life  of  the  student ;  the 
side  glance  of  a  bright  eye  had  been  the  undoing  of  him.  Day 
and  night  -he  could  not  get  the  image  of  this  most  modest 
damsel  out  of  his  mind.  He  sought  the  mansion  of  the  padre. 
Alas  !  it  was  above  the  class  of  houses  accessible  to  a  strolling 
student  like  himself.  The  worthy  padre  had  no  sympathy  with 
him ;  he  had  never  been  Estudiante  sopista,  obliged  to  sing  for 


340  THE    ALHAMBRA 

his  supper.  He  blockaded  the  house  by  day,  catching  a  glance 
of  the  damsel  now  and  then  as  she  appeared  at  a  casement ; 
but  these  glances  only  fed  his  flame  without  encouraging  his 
hope.  He  serenaded  her  balcony  at  night,  and  at  one  time  was 
flattered  by  the  appearance  of  something  white  at  a  window. 
Alas,  it  was  only  the  night-cap  of  the  padre. 

Never  was  lover  more  devoted ;  never  damsel  more  shy  :  the 
poor  student  was  reduced  to  despair.  At  length  arrived  the 
eve  of  St.  John,  when  the  lower  classes  of  Granada  swarm  into 
the  country,  dance  away  the  afternoon,  and  pass  midsummer's 
night  on  the  banks  of  the  Darro  and  the  Xenil.  Happy  are 
they  who  on  this  eventful  night  can  wash  their  faces  in  those 
waters  just  as  the  cathedral  bell  tells  midnight,  for  at  that  pre 
cise  moment  they  have  a  beautifying  power.  The  student,  hav 
ing  nothing  to  do,  suffered  himself  to  be  carried  away  by  the 
holiday-seeking  throng  until  he  found  himself  in  the  narrow 
valley  of  the  Darro,  below  the  lofty  hill  and  ruddy  towers  of 
the  Alhambra.  The  dry  bed  of  the  river;  the  rocks  which 
border  it ;  the  terraced  gardens  which  overhang  it,  were  alive 
with  variegated  groups  dancing  under  the  vines  and  fig-trees  to 
the  sound  of  the  guitar  and  castanets. 

The  student  remained  for  some  time  in  doleful  dumps,  lean 
ing  against  one  of  the  huge  misshapen  stone  pomegranates 
which  adorn  the  ends  of  the  little  bridge  over  the  Darro.  He 
cast  a  wistful  glance  upon  the  merry  scene,  where  every  cavalier 
had  his  dame;  or,  to  speak  more  appropriately,  every  Jack  his 
Jill ;  sighed  at  his  own  solitary  state,  a  victim  to  the  black  eye 
of  the  most  unapproachable  of  damsels,  and  repined  at  his  ragged 
garb,  which  seemed  to  shut  the  gate  of  hope  against  him. 

By  degrees  his  attention  was  attracted  to  a  neighbor  equally 
solitary  with  himself.  This  was  a  tall  soldier,  of  a  stern  aspect 
and  grizzled  beard,  who  seemed  posted  as  a  sentry  at  the  oppo 
site  pomegranate.  His  face  was  bronzed  by  time ;  he  was 
arrayed  in  ancient  Spanish  armor,  with  buckler  and  lance,  and 


THE   ANTIQUE   SENTRY  341 

stood  immovable  as  a  statue.  What  surprised  the  student  was, 
that  though  thus  strangely  equipped,  he  was  totally  unnoticed  by 
the  passing  throng,  albeit  that  many  almost  brushed  against  him. 

"  This  is  a  city  of  old  time  peculiarities,"  thought  the  student, 
"  and  doubtless  this  is  one  of  them  with  which  the  inhabitants 
are  too  familiar  to  be  surprised."  His  own  curiosity,  however, 
was  awakened,  and  being  of  a  social  disposition,  he  accosted  the 
soldier. 

"A  rare  old  suit  of  armor  that  which  you  wear,  comrade. 
May  I  ask  what  corps  you  belong  to  ? " 

The  soldier  gasped  out  a  reply  from  a  pair  of  jaws  which 
seemed  to  have  rusted  on  their  hinges. 

"  The  royal  guard  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella." 

"  Santa  Maria  !  Why,  it  is  three  centuries  since  that  corps 
was  in  service." 

"And  for  three  centuries  have  I  been  mounting  guard.  Now 
I  trust  my  tour  of  duty  draws  to  a  close.  Dost  thou  desire 
fortune  ? " 

The  student  held  up  his  tattered  cloak  in  reply. 

"I  understand  thee.  If  thou  hast  faith  and  courage,  follow 
me,  and  thy  fortune  is  made." 

"  Softly,  comrade,  to  follow  thee  would  require  small  courage 
in  one  who  has  nothing  to  lose  but  life  and  an  old  guitar,  neither 
of  much  value  ;  but  my  faith  is  of  a  different  matter,  and  not  to 
be  put  in  temptation.  If  it  be  any  criminal  act  by  which  I  am 
to  mend  my  fortune,  think  not  my  ragged  cloak  will  make  me 
undertake  it." 

The  soldier  turned  on  him  a  look  of  high  displeasure.  "  My 
sword,"  said  he,  "  has  never  been  drawn  but  in  the  cause  of 
the  faith  and  the  throne.  I  am  a  Cristiano  viejo  ;  trust  in  me 
and  fear  no  evil." 

The  student  followed  him  wondering.  He  observed  that  no 
one  heeded  their  conversation,  and  that  the  soldier  made  his  way 
through  the  various  groups  of  idlers  unnoticed,  as  if  invisible. 


342  THE   ALHAMBRA 

Crossing  the  bridge,  the  soldier  led  the  way  by  a  narrow  and 
steep  path  past  a  Moorish  mill  and  aqueduct,  and  up  the  ravine 
which  separates  the  domains  of  the  Generalise  from  those  of  the 
Alhambra.  The  last  ray  of  the  sun  shone  upon  the  red  battle 
ments  of  the  latter,  which  beetled  far  above ;  and  the  convent- 
bells  were  proclaiming  the  festival  of  the  ensuing  day.  The 
ravine  was  overshadowed  by  fig-trees,  vines,  and  myrtles,  and 
the  outer  towers  and  walls  of  the  fortress.  It  was  dark  and 
lonely,  and  the  twilight-loving  bats  began  to  flit  about.  At 
length  the  soldier  halted  at  a  remote  and  ruined  tower,  appar 
ently  intended  to  guard  a  Moorish  aqueduct.  He  struck  the 
foundation  with  the  but-end  of  his  spear.  A  rumbling  sound 
was  heard,  and  the  solid  stones  yawned  apart,  leaving  an  open 
ing  as  wide  as  a  door. 

"Enter  in  the  name  of  the  Holy  Trinity,"  said  the  soldier, 
"  and  fear  nothing."  The  student's  heart  quaked,  but  he  made 
the  sign  of  the  cross,  muttered  his  Ave  Maria,  and  followed  his 
mysterious  guide  into  a  deep  vault  cut  out  of  the  solid  rock 
under  the  tower,  and  covered  with  Arabic  inscriptions.  The 
soldier  pointed  to  a  stone  seat  hewn  along  one  side  of  the  vault. 
"Behold,"  said  he,  "my  couch  for  three  hundred  years."  The 
bewildered  student  tried  to  force  a  joke.  "By  the  blessed 
St.  Anthony,"  said  he,  "but  you  must  have  slept  soundly,  con 
sidering  the  hardness  of  your  couch." 

"  On  the  contrary,  sleep  has  been  a  stranger  to  these  eyes ; 
incessant  watchfulness  has  been  my  doom.  Listen  to  my  lot. 
I  was  one  of  the  royal  guards  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella ;  but 
was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Moors  in  one  of  their  sorties,  and 
confined  a  captive  in  this  tower.  When  preparations  were 
made  to  surrender  the  fortress  to  the  Christian  sovereigns,  I  was 
prevailed  upon  by  an  Alfaqui,  a  Moorish  priest,  to  aid  him  in 
secreting  some  of  the  treasures  of  Boabdil  in  this  vault.  I  was 
justly  punished  for  my  fault.  The  Alfaqui  was  an  African 
necromancer,  and  by  his  infernal  arts  cast  a  spell  upon  me  —  to 


SPELL-BOUND  343 

guard  his  treasures.  Something  must  have  happened  to  him, 
for  he  never  returned,  and  here  have  I  remained  ever  since, 
buried  alive.  Years  and  years  have  rolled  away ;  earthquakes 
have  shaken  this  hill ;  I  have  heard  stone  by  stone  of  the  tower 
above  tumbling  to  the  ground,  in  the  natural  operation  of  time  ; 
but  the  spell  bound  walls  of  this  vault  set  both  time  and  earth 
quakes  at  defiance. 

"  Once  every  hundred  years,  on  the  festival  of  St.  John,  the 
enchantment  ceases  to  have  thorough  sway ;  I  am  permitted  to 
go  forth  and  post  myself  upon  the  bridge  of  the  Darro,  where 
you  met  me,  waiting  until  some  one  shall  arrive  who  may  have 
power  to  break  this  magic  spell.  I  have  hitherto  mounted 
guard  there  in  vain.  I  walk  as  in  a  cloud,  concealed  from 
mortal  sight.  You  are  the  first  to  accost  me  for  now  three 
hundred  years.  I  behold  the  reason.  I  see  on  your  finger  the 
seal-ring  of  Solomon  the  Wise,  which  is  proof  against  all  enchant 
ment.  With  you  it  remains  to  deliver  me  from  this  awful  dun 
geon,  or  to  leave  me  to  keep  guard  here  for  another  hundred  years." 

The  student  listened  to  this  tale  in  mute  wonderment.  He 
had  heard  many  tales  of  treasures  shut  up  under  strong  enchant 
ment  in  the  vaults  of  the  Alhambra,  but  had  treated  them  as 
fables.  He  now  felt  the  value  of  the  seal-ring,  which  had,  in  a 
manner,  been  given  to  him  by  St.  Cyprian.  Still,  though 
armed  by  so  potent  a  talisman,  it  is  an  awful  thing  to  find  him 
self  tete-a-tete  in  such  a  place  with  an  enchanted  soldier,  who, 
according  to  the  laws  of  nature,  ought  to  have  been  quietly  in 
his  grave  for  nearly  three  centuries. 

A  personage  of  this  kind,  however,  was  quite  out  of  the  ordi 
nary  run,  and  not  to  be  trifled  with,  and  he  assured  him  he 
might  rely  upon  his  friendship  and  good  will  to  do  everything 
in  his  power  for  his  deliverance. 

"I  trust  to  a  motive  more  powerful  than  friendship,"  said 
the  soldier. 

He  pointed  to  a  ponderous  iron  coffer,  secured  by  locks  in- 


344  THE    ALHAMBRA 

scribed  with  Arabic  characters.  "That  coffer,"  said  he,  "con 
tains  countless  treasure  in  gold  and  jewels  and  precious  stones. 
Break  the  magic  spell  by  which  I  am  enthralled,  and  one-half 
of  this  treasure  shall  be  thine." 

"But  how  am  I  to  do  it?" 

"  The  aid  of  a  Christian  priest  and  a  Christian  maid  is  neces 
sary.  The  priest  to  exorcise  the  powers  of  darkness ;  the  dam 
sel  to  touch  this  chest  with  the  seal  of  Solomon.  This  must  be 
done  at  night.  But  have  a  care.  This  is  solemn  work,  and 
not  to  be  effected  by  the  carnal-minded.  The  priest  must  be 
a  Cristiano  viejo  a  model  of  sanctity ;  and  must  mortify  the 
flesh  before  he  comes  here,  by  a  rigorous  fast  of  four-and-twenty 
hours :  and  as  to  the  maiden,  she  must  be  above  reproach,  and 
proof  against  temptation.  Linger  not  in  finding  such  aid.  In 
three  days  my  furlough  is  at  an  end  ;  if  not  delivered  before  mid 
night  of  the  third,  I  shall  ha  veto  mount  guard  for  another  century." 

"Fear  not,"  said  the  student,  "I  have  in  my  eye  the  very 
priest  and  damsel  you  describe ;  but  how  am  I  to  regain  admis 
sion  to  this  tower  1 " 

"  The  seal  of  Solomon  will  open  the  way  for  thee." 

The  student  issued  forth  from  the  tower  much  more  gayly 
than  he  had  entered.  The  wall  closed  behind  him,  and  remained 
solid  as  before. 

The  next  morning  he  repaired  boldly  to  the  mansion  of  the 
priest,  no  longer  a  poor  strolling  student,  thrumming  his  way 
with  a  guitar ;  but  an  ambassador  from  the  shadowy  world, 
with  enchanted  treasures  to  bestow.  No  particulars  are  told 
of  his  negotiation,  excepting  that  the  zeal  of  the  worthy  priest 
was  easily  kindled  at  the  idea  of  rescuing  an  old  soldier  of  the 
faith  and  a  strong-box  of  King  Chico  from  the  very  clutches  of 
Satan ;  and  then  what  alms  might  be  dispensed,  what  churches 
built,  and  how  many  poor  relatives  enriched  with  the  Moorish 
treasure ! 

As  to  the  immaculate  handmaid,  she  was  ready  to  lend  her 


THE    CHASTE    SALUTE  345 

hand,  which  was  all  that  was  required,  to  the  pious  work ;  and 
if  a  shy  glance  now  and  then  might  be  believed,  the  ambassador 
began  to  find  favor  in  her  modest  eyes. 

The  greatest  difficulty,  however,  was  the  fast  to  which  the 
good  padre  had  to  subject  himself.  Twice  he  attempted  it, 
and  twice  the  flesh  was  too  strong  for  the  spirit.  It  was  only 
on  the  third  day  that  he  was  enabled  to  withstand  the  tempta 
tions  of  the  cupboard ;  but  it  was  still  a  question  whether  he 
would  hold  out  until  the  spell  was  broken. 

At  a  late  hour  of  the  night  the  party  groped  their  way  up 
the  ravine  by  the  light  of  a  lantern,  and  bearing  a  basket  with 
provisions  for  exorcising  the  demon  of  hunger  so  soon  as  the 
other  demons  should  be  laid  in  the  Red  Sea. 

The  seal  of  Solomon  opened  their  way  into  the  tower.  They 
found  the  soldier  seated  on  the  enchanted  strong-box,  awaiting 
their  arrival.  The  exorcism  was  performed  in  due  style.  The 
damsel  advanced  and  touched  the  locks  of  the  coffer  with  the 
seal  of  Solomon.  The  lid  flew  open ;  and  such  treasures  of  gold 
and  jewels  and  precious  stones  as  flashed  upon  the  eye  ! 

"  Here's  cut  and  come  again  !  "  cried  the  student,  exultingly, 
as  he  proceeded  to  cram  his  pockets. 

"  Fairly  and  softly,"  exclaimed  the  soldier.  "  Let  us  get  the 
coffer  out  entire,  and  then  divide." 

They  accordingly  went  to  work  with  might  and  main ;  but 
it  was  a  difficult  task ;  the  chest  was  enormously  heavy,  and 
had  been  imbedded  there  for  centuries.  While  they  were  thus 
employed  the  good  dominie  drew  on  one  side  and  made  a  vigor 
ous  onslaught  on  the  basket,  by  way  of  exorcising  the  demon  of 
hunger  which  was  raging  in  his  entrails.  In  a  little  while  a 
fat  capon  was  devoured,  and  washed  down  by  a  deep  potation 
of  Val  de  penas ;  and,  by  way  of  grace  after  meat,  he  gave  a 
kind-hearted  kiss  to  the  pet  lamb  who  waited  on  him.  It  was 
quietly  done  in  a  corner,  but  the  tell-tale  walls  babbled  it  forth 
as  if  in  triumph.  Never  was  chaste  salute  more  awful  in  its 


346  THE    ALHAMBRA 

effects.  At  the  sound  the  soldier  gave  a  great  cry  of  despair ; 
the  coffer,  which  was  half  raised,  fell  back  in  its  place  and  was 
locked  once  more.  Priest,  student,  and  damsel,  found  them 
selves  outside  of  the  tower,  the  wall  of  which  closed  with  a  thun 
dering  jar.  Alas  !  the  good  padre  had  broken  his  fast  too  soon  ! 

When  recovered  from  his  surprise,  the  student  would  have 
reentered  the  tower,  but  learnt  to  his  dismay  that  the  damsel, 
in  her  fright,  had  let  fall  the  seal  of  Solomon;  it  remained 
within  the  vault. 

In  a  word,  the  cathedral  bell  tolled  midnight ;  the  spell  was 
renewed ;  the  soldier  was  doomed  to  mount  guard  for  another 
hundred  years,  and  there  he  and  the  treasure  remain  to  this 
day  —  and  all  because  the  kind-hearted  padre  kissed  his  hand 
maid.  "  Ah  father !  father ! "  said  the  student,  shaking  his 
head  ruefully,  as  they  returned  down  the  ravine,  "  I  fear  there 
was  less  of  the  saint  than  the  sinner  in  that  kiss  ! " 

Thus  ends  the  legend  as  far  as  it  has  been  authenticated. 
There  is  a  tradition,  however,  that  the  student  had  brought 
off  treasure  enough  in  his  pocket  to  set  him  up  in  the  world ; 
that  he  prospered  in  his  affairs,  that  the  worthy  Padre  gave 
him  the  pet  lamb  in  marriage,  by  way  of  amends  for  the  blunder 
in  the  vault ;  that  the  immaculate  damsel  proved  a  pattern  for 
wives  as  she  had  been  for  handmaids,  and  bore  her  husband 
a  numerous  progeny ;  that  the  first  was  a  wonder ;  it  was  born 
seven  months  after  her  marriage,  and  though  a  seven  months' 
boy,  was  the  sturdiest  of  the  flock.  The  rest  were  all  born  in 
the  ordinary  course  of  time. 

The  story  of  the  enchanted  soldier  remains  one  of  the  popular 
traditions  of  Granada,  though  told  in  a  variety  of  ways  ;  the 
common  people  affirm  that  he  still  mounts  guard  on  midsummer 
eve,  beside  the  gigantic  stone  pomegranate  on  the  Bridge  of  the 
Darro ;  but  remains  invisible  excepting  to  such  lucky  mortal  as 
may  possess  the  seal  of  Solomon. 


THE    CAVE    OF   SAN    CYPRIAN  347 


NOTES  TO   THE   ENCHANTED   SOLDIER 

Among  the  ancient  superstitions  of  Spain,  were  those  of  the 
existence  of  profound  caverns  in  which  the  magic  arts  were  taught, 
either  by  the  devil  in  person,  or  some  sage  devoted  to  his  service. 
One  of  the  most  famous  of  these  caves  was  at  Salamanca.  Don 
Francisco  de  Torreblanca  makes  mention  of  it  in  the  first  book  of 
his  work  on  magic,  C.  2,  No.  4.  The  devil  was  said  to  play  the 
part  of  Oracle  there ;  giving  replies  to  those  who  repaired  thither 
to  propound  fateful  questions,  as  in  the  celebrated  cave  of  Tropho- 
nius.  Don  Francisco,  though  he  records  this  story,  does  not  put 
faith  in  it :  he  gives  it  however  as  certain,  that  a  Sacristan,  named 
Clement  Potosi,  taught  secretly  the  magic  arts  in  that  cave.  Padre 
Feyjoo,  who  inquired  into  the  matter,  reports  it  as  a  vulgar  belief, 
that  the  devil  himself  taught  those  arts  there  ;  admitting  only  seven 
disciples  at  a  time,  one  of  .whom,  to  be  determined  by  lot,  was  to 
be  devoted  to  him  body  and  soul  forever.  Among  one  of  these  sets 
of  students  was  a  young  man,  son  of  the  Marquis  de  Villena,  on 
whom,  after  having  accomplished  his  studies,  the  lot  fell.  He  suc 
ceeded,  however,  in  cheating  the  devil,  leaving  him  his  shadow  in 
stead  of  his  body. 

Don  Juan  de  Dios,  Professor  of  Humanities  in  the  University,  in 
the  early  part  of  the  last  century,  gives  the  following  version  of  the 
story,  extracted,  as  he  says,  from  an  ancient  manuscript.  It  will 
be  perceived  he  has  marred  the  supernatural  part  of  the  tale,  and 
ejected  the  devil  from  it  altogether. 

As  to  the  fable  of  the  Cave  of  San  Cyprian,  says  he,  all  that  we 
have  been  able  to  verify  is,  that  where  the  stone  cross  stands,  in 
the  small  square  or  place  called  by  the  name  of  the  Seminary  of 
Carvajal,  there  was  the  parochial  church  of  San  Cyprian.  A  de 
scent  of  twenty  steps  led  down  to  a  subterranean  Sacristy,  spacious 
and  vaulted  like  a  cave.  Here  a  Sacristan  once  taught  magic, 
judicial  astrology,  geomancy,  hydromancy,  pyromancy,  acromancy, 
chiromancy,  necromancy,  etc. 

The  extract  goes  on  to  state  that  seven  students  engaged  at  a 
time  with  the  Sacristan,  at  a  fixed  stipend.  Lots  were  cast  among 
them  which  one  of  their  number  should  pay  for  the  whole,  with 
the  understanding  that  he  on  whom  the  lot  fell,  if  he  did  not  pay 
promptly,  should  be  detained  in  a  chamber  of  the  Sacristy  until 


348  THE    ALHAMBRA 

the  funds  were  forthcoming.  This  became  thenceforth  the  usual 
practice. 

On  one  occasion  the  lot  fell  on  Henry  de  Villena,  son  of  the 
marquis  of  the  same  name.  He  having  perceived  that  there  had 
been  trick  and  shuffling  in  the  casting  of  the  lot,  and  suspecting 
the  Sacristan  to  be  cognizant  thereof,  refused  to  pay.  He  was 
forthwith  left  in  limbo.  It  so  happened,  that  in  a  dark  corner  of 
the  Sacristy  was  a  huge  jar  or  earthen  reservoir  for  water,  which 
was  cracked  and  empty.  In  this  the  youth  contrived  to  conceal 
himself.  The  Sacristan  returned  at  night  with  a  servant,  bringing 
lights  and  a  supper.  Unlocking  the  door,  they  found  no  one  in 
the  vault,  and  a  book  of  magic  lying  open  on  the  table.  They  re 
treated  in  dismay,  leaving  the  door  open,  by  which  Villena  made 
his  escape.  The  story  went  about  that  through  magic  he  had 
made  himself  invisible.  —  The  reader  has  now  both  versions  of  the 
story,  and  may  make  his  choice.  I  will  only  observe  that  the 
sages  of  the  Alhambra  incline  to  the  diabolical  one. 

This  Henry  de  Villena  flourished  in  the  time  of  Juan  II.,  King 
of  Castile,  of  whom  he  was  uncle.  He  became  famous  for  his 
knowledge  of  the  Natural  Sciences  ;  and  hence  in  that  ignorant 
age  was  stigmatized  as  a  necromancer.  Fernan  Perez  de  Guzman, 
in  his  account  of  distinguished  men,  gives  him  credit  for  great 
learning,  but  says  he  devoted  himself  to  the  arts  of  divination,  the 
interpretation  of  dreams,  of  signs,  and  portents. 

At  the  death  of  Villena,  his  library  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
King,  who  was  warned  that  it  contained  books  treating  of  magic, 
and  not  proper  to  be  read.  King  Juan  ordered  that  they  should 
be  transported  in  carts  to  the  residence  of  a  reverend  prelate  to  be 
examined.  The  prelate  was  less  learned  than  devout.  Some  of 
the  books  treated  of  mathematics,  others  of  astronomy,  with  figures 
and  diagrams,  and  planetary  signs ;  others  of  chemistry  or  al 
chemy,  with  foreign  and  mystic  words.  All  these  were  necro 
mancy  in  the  eyes  of  the  pious  prelate,  and  the  books  were  con 
signed  to  the  flames,  like  the  library  of  Don  Quixote. 

THE  SEAL  OF  SOLOMON.  —  The  device  consists  of  two  equilateral 
triangles,  interlaced  so  as  to  form  a  star,  and  surrounded  by  a 
circle.  According  to  Arab  tradition,  when  the  Most  High  gave 
Solomon  the  choice  of  blessings,  and  he  chose  wisdom,  there  came 
from  heaven  a  ring,  on  which  this  device  was  engraven.  This 
mystic  talisman  was  the  arcanum  of  his  wisdom,  felicity,  and 
grandeur ;  by  this  he  governed  and  prospered.  In  consequence  of 


THE    SEAL    OF    SOLOMON  349 

a  temporary  lapse  from  virtue  he  lost  the  ring  in  the  sea,  and  was 
at  once  reduced  to  the  level  of  ordinary  men.  By  penitence  and 
prayer  he  made  his  peace  with  the  Deity,  was  permitted  to  find 
his  ring  again  in  the  belly  of  a  fish,  and  thus  recovered  his  celestial 
gifts.  That  he  might  not  utterly  lose  them  again,  he  communi 
cated  to  others  the  secret  of  the  marvellous  ring. 

This  symbolical  seal,  we  are  told,  was  sacrilegiously  used  by  the 
Mohammedan  infidels  ;  and  before  them  by  the  Arabian  idolaters, 
and  before  them  by  the  Hebrews,  for  "diabolical  enterprises  and 
abominable  superstitions."  Those  who  wish  to  be  more  thoroughly 
informed  on  the  subject,  will  do  well  to  consult  the  learned  Father 
Athanasius  Kirker's  treatise  on  the  Cabala  jSarracenica. 

A  word  more  to  the  curious  reader.  There  are  many  persons  in 
these  skeptical  times  who  affect  to  deride  everything  connected 
with  the  occult  sciences,  or  black  art ;  who  have  no  faith  in  the 
efficacy  of  conjurations,  incantations,  or  divinations ;  and  who 
stoutly  contend  that  such  things  never  had  existence.  To  such  de 
termined  unbelievers  the  testimony  of  past  ages  is  as  nothing  ;  they 
require  the  evidence  of  their  own  senses,  and  deny  that  such  arts 
and  practices  have  prevailed  in  days  of  yore,  simply  because  they 
meet  with  no  instance  of  them  in  the  present  day.  They  cannot 
perceive  that,  as  the  world  became  versed  in  the  natural  sciences, 
the  supernatural  became  superfluous  and  fell  into  disuse  ;  and  that 
the  hardy  inventions  of  art  superseded  the  mysteries  of  magic. 
Still,  say  the  enlightened  few,  those  mystic  powers  exist,  though 
in  a  latent  state,  and  untasked  by  the  ingenuity  of  men.  A  talis 
man  is  still  a  talisman,  possessing  all  its  indwelling  and  awful 
properties ;  though  it  may  have  lain  dormant  for  ages  at  the  bot 
tom  of  the  sea,  or  in  the  dusty  cabinet  of  the  antiquary. 

The  signet  of  Solomon  the  Wise,  for  instance,  is  well  known  to 
have  held  potent  control  over  genii,  demons,  and  enchantments ; 
now  who  will  positively  assert  that  the  same  mystic  signet,  wher 
ever  it  may  exist,  does  not  at  the  present  moment  possess  the  same 
marvellous  virtues  which  distinguished  it  in  the  olden  time  ?  Let 
those  who  doubt  repair  to  Salamanca,  delve  into  the  cave  of  San 
Cyprian,  explore  its  hidden  secrets,  and  decide.  As  to  those  who 
will  not  be  at  the  pains  of  such  investigation,  let  them  substitute 
faith  for  incredulity,  and  receive  with  honest  credence  the  fore 
going  legend. 


350  THE  ALHAMBRA 


THE  AUTHOR'S  FAREWELL  TO  GRANADA 

MY  serene  and  happy  reign  in  the  Alhambra  was  suddenly 
brought  to  a  close  by  letters  which  reached  me,  while  indulging 
in  oriental  luxury  in  the  cool  hall  of  the  baths,  summoning  me 
away  from  my  Moslem  elysium,  to  mingle  once  more  in  the 
bustle  and  business  of  the  dusty  world.  How  was  I  to  en 
counter  its  toils  and  turmoils,  after  such  a  life  of  repose  and 
reverie !  How  was  I  to  endure  its  commonplace,  after  the 
poetry  of  the  Alhambra  ! 

But  little  preparation  was  necessary  for  my  departure.  A 
two-wheeled  vehicle,  called  a  tartana,  very  much  resembling  a 
covered  cart,  was  to  be  the  travelling  equipage  of  a  young 
Englishman  and  myself  through  Murcia,  to  Alicant  and  Valen 
cia,  on  our  way  to  France ;  and  a  long-limbed  varlet,  who  had 
been  a  contrabandista,  and,  for  aught  I  knew,  a  robber,  was  to 
be  our  guide  and  guard.  The  preparations  were  soon  made, 
but  the  departure  was  the  difficulty.  Day  after  day  was  it 
postponed;  day  after  day  was  spent  in  lingering  about  my 
favorite  haunts,  and  day  after  day  they  appeared  more  delight 
ful  in  my  eyes. 

The  social  and  domestic  little  world  also,  in  which  I  had 
been  moving,  had  become  singularly  endeared  to  me ;  and  the 
concern  evinced  by  them  at  my  intended  departure,  convinced 
me  that  my  kind  feelings  were  reciprocated.  Indeed,  when  at 
length  the  day  arrived,  I  did  not  dare  venture  upon  a  leave- 
taking  at  the  good  dame  Antonia's ;  I  saw  the-  soft  heart  of 
little  Dolores,  at  least,  was  brimful  and  ready  for  an  overflow. 
So  I  bade  a  silent  adieu  to  the  palace  and  its  inmates,  and 
descended  into  the  city  as  if  intending  to  return.  There,  how 
ever,  the  tartana  and  the  guide  were  ready ;  so,  after  taking  a 
noon-day's  repast  with  my  fellow-traveller  at  the  Posada,  I  set 
out  with  him  on  our  journey. 


SORROWFUL    PARTINGS  351 

Humble  was  the  cortege  and  melancholy  the  departure  of 
El  Hey  Chico  the  Second  !  Manuel,  the  nephew  of  Tia  Antonia, 
Mateo,  my  officious  but  now  disconsolate  squire,  and  two  or 
three  old  invalids  of  the  Alhambra  with  whom  I  had  grown 
into  gossiping  companionship,  had  come  down  to  see  me  off; 
for  it  is  one  of  the  good  old  customs  of  Spain,  to  sally  forth 
several  miles  to  meet  a  coming  friend,  and  to  accompany  him 
as  far  on  his  departure.  Thus  then  we  set  out,  our  long-legged 
guard  striding  ahead,  with  his  escopeta  on  his  shoulder ;  Manuel 
and  Mateo  on  each  side  of  the  tartana,  and  the  old  invalids  behind. 

At  some  little  distance  to  the  north  of  Granada,  the  road 
gradually  ascends  the  hills;  here  I  alighted  and  walked  up 
slowly  with  Manuel,  who  took  this  occasion  to  confide  to  me 
the 'secret  of  his  heart  and  of  all  those  tender  concerns  between 
himself  and  Dolores,  with  which  I  had  been  already  informed 
by  the  all-knowing  and  all-revealing  Mateo  Ximenes.  His 
doctor's  diploma  had  prepared  the  way  for  their  union,  and 
nothing  more  was  wanting  but  the  dispensation  of  the  Pope,  on 
account  of  their  consanguinity.  Then,  if  he  could  get  the  post 
of  Medico  of  the  fortress,  his  happiness  would  be  complete  ! 
I  congratulated  him  on  the  judgment  and  good  taste  he  had 
shown  in  his  choice  of  a  helpmate ;  invoked  all  possible  felicity 
on  their  union,  and  trusted  that  the  abundant  affections  of  the 
kind-hearted  little  Dolores  would  in  time  have  more  stable 
objects  to  occupy  them  than  recreant  cats  and  truant  pigeons. 

It  was  indeed  a  sorrowful  parting  when  I  took  leave  of  these 
good  people  and  saw  them  slowly  descend  the  hills ;  now  and 
then  turning  round  to  wave  me'  a  last  adieu.  Manuel,  it  is 
true,  had  cheerful  prospects  to  console  him,  but  poor  Mateo 
seemed  perfectly  cast  down.  It  was  to  him  a  grievous  fall 
from  the  station  of  prime  minister  and  historiographer,  to  his 
old  brown  cloak  and  his  starveling  mystery  of  ribbon- weaving  ; 
and  the  poor  devil,  notwithstanding  his  occasional  officiousness, 
had,  somehow  or  other,  acquired  a  stronger  hold  on  my  sym- 


352  THE    ALHAMBRA 

pathies  than  I  was  aware  of.  It  would  have  really  been  a  con 
solation  in  parting,  could  I  have  anticipated  the  good  fortune 
in  store  for  him,  and  to  which  I  had  contributed ;  for  the  im 
portance  I  had  appeared  to  give  to  his  tales  and  gossip  and 
local  knowledge,  and  the  frequent  companionship  in  which  I  had 
indulged  him  in  the  course  of  my  strolls,  had  elevated  his  idea 
of  his  own  qualifications  and  opened  a  new  career  to  him;  and 
the  son  of  the  Alhambra  has  since  become  its  regular  and  well- 
paid  cicerone ;  insomuch  that  I  am  told  he  has  never  been  obliged 
to  resume  the  ragged  old  brown  cloak  in  which  I  first  found  him. 

Towards  sunset  I  came  to  where  the  road  wound  into  the 
mountains,  and  here  I  paused  to  take  a  last  look  at  Granada. 
The  hill  on  which  I  stood  commanded  a  glorious  view  of  the 
city,  the  Vega,  and  the  surrounding  mountains.  It  was  at  an 
opposite  point  of  the  compass  from  La  cuesta  de  las  lagrimas 
(the  hill  of  tears),  noted  for  the  "last  sigh. of  the  Moor."  I 
now  could  realize  something  of  the  feelings  of  poor  Boabdil  when 
he  bade  adieu  to  the  paradise  he  was  leaving  behind,  and  beheld 
before  him  a  rugged  and  sterile  road  conducting  him  to  exile. 

The  setting  sun  as  usual  shed  a  melancholy  effulgence  on  the 
ruddy  towers  of  the  Alhambra.  I  could  faintly  discern  the  bal 
conied  window  of  the  tower  of  Comares,  where  I  had  indulged 
in  so  many  delightful  reveries.  The  bosky  groves  and  gardens 
about  the  city  were  richly  gilded  with  the  sunshine,  the  purple 
haze  of  a  summer  evening  was  gathering  over  the  Vega ;  every 
thing  was  lovely,  but  tenderly  and  sadly  so,  to  my  parting  gaze. 

"I  will  hasten  from  this  prospect,"  thought  I,  "before  the 
sun  is  set.  I  will  carry  away  a  recollection  of  it  clothed  in  all 
its  beauty." 

With  these  thoughts  I  pursued  my  way  among  the  moun 
tains.  A  little  further  and  Granada,  the  Vega,  and  the  Al 
hambra,  were  shut  from  my  view ;  and  thus  ended  one  of  the 
pleasantest  dreams  of  a  life,  which  the  reader  perhaps  may  think 
has  been  but  too  much  made  up  of  dreams. 


NOTES 

THE  text  used  in  this  edition  follows  that  of  the  revised  edition 
published  a  short  time  before  Irving' s  death.  Irving' s  language  is 
so  simple,  his  statements  so  clear  and  complete,  that  notes  are 
largely  unnecessary.  Light  might  be  thrown  on  the  historical 
chapters  by  frequent  references  to  The  Conquest  of  Granada. 
The  Alhambra  is  enjoyable  and  easily  intelligible,  however,  with 
out  such  references  ;  it  therefore  seems  best  to  omit  them  entirely, 
at  the  same  time  strongly  recommending  that  The  Conquest  of 
Granada  be  read.  The  notes  that  follow  are  of  a  general  nature. 

Granada  of  To-day.  —  **  It  is  with  more  or  less  justice  that  the 
modern  Granada  has  been  described  as  a  '  living  ruin. '  A  few  of 
the  chief  streets  are  furbished  up  to  a  certain  extent  for  the  eyes 
of  the  visitor  from  foreign  parts ;  but  the  side  streets  are  full  of 
filth  and  decay,  and  some  of  the  more  remote  are  not  even  lighted 
at  night.  The  aristocracy  prefers  to  spend  its  rents  in  Madrid. 
A  large  proportion  of  the  population  subsists  by  begging  alone.  It 
is  still  questionable  whether  the  hoped-for  results  will  ensue  from 
the  opening  of  several  large  beetroot-sugar  manufactories  and  the 
improvement  of  the  mining  industry  in  the  Sierra  Nevada.  ,  When 
all  is  said,  however,  Granada  still  remains  as  the  culminating 
point  of  a  journey  to  Spain,  not  only  for  its  magnificent  views  of 
the  great  snow-clad  mountains  to  the  S.  E.,  but  also  for  the  glimpse 
it  affords  of  the  past,  the  remains  it  has  to  present  of  a  strange  and 
exotic  culture  and  art." 

The  above  paragraph  is  from  Baedeker's  Spain.  It  may  be 
added  that  at  the  time  of  the  Conquest  the  population  was  proba 
bly  about  five  hundred  thousand  ;  now  it  is  estimated  at  sixty-five 
2  A  353 


354  NOTES 

thousand.  The  Alhambra  is  practically  the  same  to-day  that  it 
was  when  Irving  visited  it  in  1829.  Some  of  the  rubbish  about 
the  palace  has  been  cleared  away,  and  the  work  of  restoration, 
which  has  been  going  on  slowly  since  1828,  has  made  some  changes 
in  the  way  of  strengthening  walls  and  removing  many  coats  of 
whitewash  which  has  for  years  concealed  and  protected  beautiful 
Moorish  fresco.  No  one  lives  in  the  palace  ;  it  is  national  property, 
unused  save  as  a  visiting  place  for  all  tourists  who  travel  through 
Spain.  The  Darrow  Edition  of  The  Alhambra  is  rich  in  illustra 
tions  of  the  city  and  the  palace  as  they  appear  to-day. 

The  Moors  in  Spain. — Mohammed,  born  at  Mecca,  Arabia, 
founded  a  religion  called  Mohammedanism  or  Islam.  Under  the 
impetus  of  this  religion,  a  large  number  of  Arabians  began  a 
long  line  of  migrations  and  conquests  which  took  them  through  the 
north  of  Africa.  In  the  eighth  century,  these  Mohammedans, 
now  mixed  with  the  Moors  of  Barbary,  though  the  Arabians  re 
tained  leadership,  invaded  Spain,  and  conquered  the  Goths,  who 
had  previously  invaded  the  country  from  the  north.  In  time  they 
overran  the  entire  peninsula,  and  established  a  strong  kingdom 
which  continued  for  about  seven  hundred  years.  Civil  dissensions 
finally  weakened  the  Moors,  as  they  were  popularly  called,  and 
they  were  conquered  by  Ferdinand,  the  Christian  king  of  Spain, 
in  1492.  He  drove  them  back  into  Africa,  and  from  this  time  on 
it  is  hard  to  trace  their  disintegration.  Andalusia,  a  district  in 
southern  Spain  principally  contained  in  the  basin  of  the  Guadal 
quivir,  was  the  final  stronghold  of  the  Moors  against  the  Christians. 
Granada  was  the  capital  city,  and  The  Alhambra  the  citadel  and 
royal  palace  in  Granada. 

Don  Quixote.  —  Irving  refers  frequently  to  a  few  standard  works 
in  Spanish  literature,  most  frequently  to  Don  Quixote.  Sancho, 
Quixote's  squire,  is  often  mentioned.  This  work  is  an  extravagant 
romance  by  Miguel  Cervantes,  published  early  in  the  seventeenth 
century.  It  is  a  great  work,  a  little  tedious  in  parts  to  the  modern 
reader,  yet  thoroughly  enjoyable  in  an  abridged  edition  such  as 


NOTES;  355 

the  one  recently  published  by  The  ft  acmillan  Company.     A  bio 
graphical  dictionary  will  give  interesting  facts  about  the  author. 

Lope  de  Vega. —A  dramatist  and  poet  (1562-1635).  His  life 
contains  many  interesting  chapters,  one  of  which  has  to  do  with 
the  Spanish  Armada.  Perhaps  the  most  wonderful  thing  of  all  is 
that  he  wrote  eighteen  hundred  plays  !  This  seems  a  fairy  story, 
but  it  is  reasonably  well  attested.  Tickiior's  History  of  Spanish 
Literature  contains  a  good  account  of  this  most  prolific  writer.  In 
this  connection  it  may  be  noted  that  Ticknor,  Prescott,  and  Irving 
form  a  trio  of  Americans  who  adopted  Spain  as  a  theme  for  study 
and  writing.  Motley,  a  fourth  American  historian,  selected  The 
Netherlands. 

Calderon.  —  Another  celebrated  dramatist  and  poet  (1600-1681). 
A  writer  of  many  secular  and  religious  plays  ;  a  follower  of  Lop6 
de  Vega. 

Gil  Bias.  —  A  novel  by  Le,  Sage,  a  French  novelist  and  drama 
tist  (1668-1747).  He  became  interested  in  Spanish  literature  and 
translated  a  number  of  the  works  of  Calderon,  Lope  de  Vega,  and 
others.  From  translations  he  passed  to  original  composition,  but 
borrowed  freely  from  Spanish  sources.  Gil  Bias  is  made  up  of 
pictures  of  Spanish  life  in  all  grades  of  society.  It  is  a  great 
novel,  worthy  to  stand  with  Don  Quixote,  which  it  resembles  in 
many  ways. 

Punctuation. — Though  based  principally  on  laws  of  common 
sense,  Punctuation  is  somewhat  a  matter  of  fashion  and  changes 
from  time  to  time.  Irving's  punctuation  is  as  superabundant  as  his 
style  is  leisurely,  forming  a  marked  contrast  to  that  of  most  writers 
in  this  commercial  era  of  haste.  The  temptation  has  been  great  to 
repunctuate ;  yet  aside  from  unavoidable  changes  necessary  for 
approximate  uniformity,  few  changes  have  been  made.  The  reader 
will  find  it  interesting  to  note  carefully  Irving's  use  of  the  comma 
and  the  hyphen. 


356 

Spanish  Words.  —  Irving  rarely  uses  a  Spanish  word  without 
giving  its  English  equivalent  The  following  vocabulary,  though 
perhaps  unnecessary,  may  prove  a  convenience  :  — 

Adalid,  a  chief.  Corregidor,  a  mayor. 

Alameda,  a  public  walk.  Escopetero,  a  musketeer. 

Alcazar,  a  fortress.  Escribano,  a  notary. 

Alforjas,  saddle-bags.  Majo,  a  gay  gallant. 

Alguazil,  a  constable.  Maravedi,  a  small  coin. 

Arriero,  a  muleteer.  Paseo,  a  walk. 

Atalaya,  a  watch-tower.  Patio,  a  court. 

Barranco,  a  mountain  gully.  Posada,  an  inn. 

Basquifia,  an  outer  petticoat.  Puro,  a  cigar. 

Bolero,  a  Spanish  dance.  Katero,  a  footpad. 

Bota,  a  bottle.  Trabuco,  a  carbine. 

Campina,  a  fertile  plain.  Vega,  a  valley. 

Contrabandists,  a  smuggler.  Venta,  an  inn. 


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jyProf.  E.  H.  LEWIS 

Of  Leivis  Institute  and  the  University  of  Chicago 


A  First  Book  in  Writing  English 

i2mo.    Buckram.    Price  80  cents 

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Sarah  V.  Chollar,  State  Normal  School,  Potsdam,  N.  Y. 

11  The  author  has  made  an  admirable  selection  of  topics  for  treatment 
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An  Introduction  to  the  Study  of  Literature 

For  the  use  of  Secondary  and  Graded  Schools. 

i2mo.    Cloth.    Price  $1.00 

This  book  is  a  collection  of  short  masterpieces  of  modern  literature 
arranged  in  groups,  each  group  interpreting  some  one  phase  of  adolescent 

interest,  e.g.,  "  The  Athlete; Fhe  Heroism  of  War;  "  "  The  Heroism  of 

Peace;"  "The  Adventurer;"  "The  Far  Goal;"  "The  Morning  Land 
scape  ;  "  "  The  Gentleman ;  "  "  The  Hearth."  A  chronological  table  is 
given  at  the  end  of  the  book,  by  centuries  and  half  centuries,  showing  at 
what  age  each  author  began  to  publish,  and  the  name  and  date  of  his  first 
book.  The  selections  together  form  an  anthology  of  English  prose  and 
verse,  but  it  is  more  than  an  ordinary  anthology;  it  is  constructed  so  as  to 
be  of  value  not  only  to  the  scholar  but  also  to  the  teacher  and  general 
reader.  Each  section  is  opened  with  a  critical  introduction  which  will 
serve  as  a  guide  both  to  teacher  and  student. 


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From  Chaucei    > 

Types  of  Literary  Art  in  Prose  an^  .^.  AH  introduction  to 
English  Literature,  with  Preface  and  Notes.  By  ANDREW  J. 
GEORGE,  A.M.,  Department  of  English,  High  School,  Newton,  Mass. 

Cloth.    8vo.    Price  $1.00 

Albert  H.  Smyth,  Central  High  School,  Philadelphia. 

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are  sufficiently  brief  and  clear,  the  bibliography  judicious,  and  a  fine 
spirit  of  appreciation  is  shown." 


Principles  of  English  Grammar 

For  the  use  of  Schools.     By  GEORGE  R.  CARPENTER,  Professor  of 
Rhetoric  and  English  Composition  in  Columbia  University. 

1 2  mo.    Half  -  Leather.    Price  75  cents 

Professor  Fred  W.  Reynolds,  University  of  Utah. 

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American  Prose  Selections 

With  Critical  Introductions  by  Various  Writers  and  a  General  Intro 
duction  edited  by  GEORGE  RICE  CARPENTER,  Columbia  University. 

I2tno.     Cloth.     Price  $1.00 

F.  A.  Voght,  Principal  Central  High  School,  Buffalo. 

"  It  is  a  pleasure  to  take  up  so  handsome  a  volume.  The  selections 
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I 


From  Chaucei    c 

Types  of  Literary  Art  in  Prose  an^  _^.  AH  introducti 
rlish  Literature,  with  Preface  and  Notes.  By  ANDT 
RGE,  A.M.,  Department  of  English,  High  School,  Newto" 

Cloth.    8vo.    Pric 

tral  High  School,  Philadelphia. 

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